104 





L_^ 



The Old Chimney Stacks 



OF 



East Haddam, 

« 

Middlesex County, Connecticut, 



o 
r 



BY 



1 



rrt (SHOSFORD B. NILES, 

iC^ Author of Genealogy of 

";;< THE NILES FAMILY. 



Ci. New York : 

LP"\^ & CO., Book and Job Printers 
"^ No. 2IO Fulton Street. 

18S7 



PREFACE. 

This little book is largely a compilation and re- 
vision of serial chapters commenced by the author in 
the East Haddam Advertiser^ in 187 1, under the 
same title. It makes no pretensions to literary 
merit, and therefore has no claim upon the world 
at large. It is a brief record of the early history of 
East Haddam, and describes the prominent char- 
acters who figured therein, their toils, their perse- 
verance, their homes — so many of which are repre- 
sented by the old chimney piles dotted here and 
there all over the town. These numerous ruins of 
former homes suggested the work to the writer 
while taking the census of 1870. The information 
was gathered in fragments and this explains the 
fragmentary character of the work. It gives the 
genealogies of such old families as I have been 
able to obtain. That it may interest not only the 
present residents of the good old town, but the 
thousands who have wandered away and still claim 
it as their ancestral home, is the earnest wish of 

the 

Author. 



C O N 1' E N T S 



CHAPTER I. 






P AOK. 


Early Settlement — Chapman, 


9 


CHAPTER H. 




East Haddam Eandino.', 


^5 


CHAPTER HI. 




Millino'ton, . . . - - 


JO 



CHAPTER IV. 
Moodns, - - - - - - - 25 

CHAPTER V. 
Moodus Noises, - - - - - 28 

CHAPTER VI. 
Middlesex County, - - - - - 32 

CHAPTER VH. 

First Congregational Society, - - - 38 

CHAPTER VHI. 

Millington Ecclesiastical Society, - - 41 



VI CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER IX. 

PAGE. 

Milliiig'ton Congregational Church, - - 47 

CHAPTER X. 

Hadlyme — Hungerford — Willey Families 55 

CHAPTER XI. 

Leesville, - - - - - - 63 

CHAPTER XII. 

Baptist, Methodist and Episcopal Churches, 68 

CHAPTER XIII. 

Cemeteries, .---.. y^ 

CHAPTER XIV. 

Ackley — Palmes — ^Parker — Harris — Martin, 79 

CHAPTER XV. 
Goodspeeds — Boardmans, - - - 84 

CHAPTER XVI. 
Green Family ..--.. go 

CHAPTER XVII. 

Gideon Higgins, ----- 95 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

Brainard — Gates — Gelston, - - -100 



CONTENTS. Til 

CHAPTER XIX. 

PAGE. 

Cone, - ------ 105 

CHAPTER XX. 
Hall — Smith, 112 

CHAPTER XXI. 
Spencer Family, - - - - - 117 

CHAPTER XXII. 

Prominent Men, - - - - - 126 

CHAPTER XXIII. 
Prominent Men — Continued, - - - 129 

CHAPTER XXIV. 
Statistics, - - - - - - i35 

CHAPTER XXV. 
Industries, ------ 139 



The Old Chimney Stacks of East Haddam, 



CHAPTER I. 

Early Settlement— Chapman. ' - 

A stack of stoneF, a dingy wall, 

O'er which the shadows cling and creep, 
A path on which no shadows fall, 

A door-step where long docJc-leaves sleep; 
A broken rafter in the grass, 

A sunken hnarth-stoiie stained and cold; 
Naught left but these, fair home, alas ! 

And the df*ar memories of old. - 

Descriptions of the ruins of Tyre, and Nineveh, 
and Thebes, and those other ancient cities which 
flourished thousands of years ago, though often re- 
peated, are always interesting. Notwithstantlin^ 
they existed in a time so remote that the mind-.ean 
scarcely fathom the dim distance, we love to con- 
template their broken pillars and crumbling walls: 
to muse over their fallen towers and shattered 
hearth-stones; we love to unearth the buried 
secrets of their former existence, and reflect that 
all these relics were once associated with other men 
and women who had hopes, and impulses and as> 
spirations like our own. The treasures which the 



lEO THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

dead leave behind them are always precious in our 
«yes, and their handiwork, their inventions, the 
evidences of their daily pursuits, are always full of 
interest. And it is with these facts in view that in 
a few chapters upon the old landmarks that form 
the only connecting links which bind us to our 
ancestors in whose footsteps we follow along the 
dim pathway of life, the writer hopes to interest 
those who cling to the memories of their native 
town. 

East Haddam may be justly regarded as one of 
the oldest, as it is one of the largest towns in the 
State. Its diversified scenery, its bracing atmos- 
phere, and its early historic associations have made 
the town an object of admiration to travellers, and 
of love to her sons and daughters. And she has 
reared many worthy sons who have graced the 
high pursuits of life; and of the virtue and beauty 
of her daughters she may well be proud. 
. The tract of land of which East Haddam is a 
part, extending from Chatham line to Chester 
Cove, and reaching six miles easterly and westerly 
■froiu the river, was purchased from four Indian 
ikings, in 1662, for thirty coats of a value not ex- 
-ceeding one hundred dollars. The tract thus pur- 
cha.sed was taken up by twenty-eight persons, 
mostly young men from the vicinity of Hartford, 
who settled in the northern part of this land on the 
west side of the river. 

■ About six years after, the privileges of a town 
^ve^e granted the colony, and the tract was called 
Haddam, from Haddam in England. 



OF EAST H ADD AM. II 

This was about the twentieth town formed in the 
State. No settlement was made on the east side 
of the river till some two years later, or about 1670. 
All the inhabitants on both sides formed one socie- 
ty until 1700, when they formed two societies, but 
it was not till 1734 that the town was divided 
agreeably to the divisions of the societies; the west 
society retaining the name of Haddam while the 
east took the name of East Haddam. The first 
settlement of East Haddam was begun at Creek 
Row, about the year 1670, over two hundred years 
ago. The first house, it is said, stood a few rods 
northeast of the site where Mason Gates' house 
now stands. Quite a number of houses were 
erected in this vicinity, and were occupied by the 
Gateses, the Brainards, and the Cones, and the 
same family names are peculiar to this neighbor- 
hood. Fields, in his history, claims that the settle- 
ment at the Creek Row commenced in 1685, which 
appears to be an error, as from a document found 
in the colony records, it is certain that " Robert 
Chapman had a dwelling-house in East Haddam 
north of the Creek Row, in 1675." It .seems to be 
conceded on all sides that the settlement at Creek 
Row was first; then it must have commenced as 
early as 1670. Besides, as the land was purchased 
and the settlement commenced in Haddam in 1662, 
it is hardly supposable that twenty-three years 
would pass before any attempt was made to settle 
the east side of the river. 

Among the earliest settlers of Saybrook was 
Robert Chapman. The name Chapman is of Saxon 



12 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

origin, meaning " chap-man," "market-man," a mon- 
ger or merchant. A large class of surnames among 
the Anglo-Saxons is derived from trades or occu? 
pations. Robert Chapman came from Hull, in 
England, in 1635, and was one of the company sent 
over by Sir Richard Salsonstall to take possession 
of a large tract of land near the mouth of the Con- 
necticut River, under the patent of Lord Say-and- 
Seal. He was then eighteen years old, and was 
one of the band of adventurers who established 
the fort at Saybrook. He was a man of exemplary 
piety. His parents were Puritans. That he was a 
person of influence in the town of Saybrook is evi- 
dent from the fact that he was for many years 
Commissioner of Saybrook, and was elected as 
their deputy to the General Court, forty-three ses- 
sions. He was therefore a member of the Legisla- 
ture of the State at more sessions than any other 
man from the settlement of Saybrook to the pres- 
ent time. Mr. Chapman was likewise a soldier, as 
we find by the records of the General Court at 
Hartford, Oct. 14, 1675 ; 

Mr. Robert Cliapinaii is by this Court appointed Capt'n 
of the Traine Band of Saybrook during the present commo- 
tion with the Indians. 

Mr. Chapman was a large land-holder, not only 
in Saybrook, Haddam, East Haddam, but in He- 
bron; there he owned forty-five hundred acres, 
which he received as one of the legatees of the 
Uncas. This land was given by will, in equal 
parts, to his three sons, John, Robert and Nathan- 
iel. He settled on a tract of land at Oyster River, 



OF EAST HADDAM. 13 

which has descended in the line of the youngest 
son of each family, and is now occupied by George 
W. Chapman, Esq., who is the youngest of the fifth 
•generation, Robert Chapman, Jr., second son of 
the first settler, was born in Saybrook in 1646. 
He owned at his death over two thousand acres of 
land in Saybrook, East Haddam and Hebron. 
Robert Chapman, 3d, was born April 19, 1675, and 
was one of the first settlers in East Haddam. He 
was a large land-holder. One of his daughters 
married a soldier of Haddam Neck, and received 
two hundred acres of land as her portion, which 
has remained in the family to the present time, the 
owners now being two brothers, W. C. and H. N, 
Selden, Their farm is inclosed by over five miles 
of street fence — one hundred acres being sur- 
rounded by highways. James Wilbur Chapman, 
grandson of the last named Robert Chapman, and 
of the seventh generation from the first settlers, 
was born August 8, 1802, and resided on, and 
was the owner of the farm which has remained in 
the family ever since it was first taken up. It has 
been deeded but once, and then to Robert W., 
having heretofore descended to the heirs by will. 
Caleb Chapman was also a large land-holder in 
East Haddam. He gave his land to his three sons, 
Timothy, Ozias and Timothy 2d. The latter set- 
tled on the spot where Amasa Day now lives. The 
farm was subsequently sold to Phineas Gates, who 
was related to the Chapman family by marriage. 
He sold it to Julius Chapman, after whose death it 
was sold at auction and purchased by Mr. Day. 



14 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

Timothy settled where Robert Day now Hves; 
Ozias where Wm. S. Gates lives. Ozias had nine 
sons and six daughters. Joseph Emmons, and Mr. 
and Mrs. Daniel Lord are among his direct descend- 
ants. Sylvester, the oldest of Ozias' sons, acquired 
considerable property from his wife. He lived in 
the first house north of the Congregational Church, 
which was then considered quite a stately resi- 
dence. He kept a store, which stood a few rods 
south of his house. He was also a Justice of the 
Peace in the town for a number of years. John 
Chapman, the eldest son of Robert, the first settler,, 
settled at Goodspeed's Landing, his home standing 
on the spot where the Gelston House now stands. 
He established the ferry across the river at that 
place, which has always remained private property^ 
and until within a few years retained its original 
name of Chapman's Ferry. 



OF EAST HADDAM. 15 

CHAPTER II. 

East Haddam Landing. 

The first dwelling house in East Haddam Land- 
ing was erected in 1743. A market for produce 
was opened about the same time, and a storehouse- 
built, which stood on the spot now occupied by 
Dr. Harris' barn in front of Tyler's store. A large- 
storehouse stood on the site of the store and just 
back of the ledge of rocks stood a hotel with a 
piazza on the river front. During the revolution- 
ary war many soldiers on their way from the east- 
ern part of the State to the North River forces 
made this a favorite route and stopped at this pub- 
lic house. Later, the house in which Ashbel Ray 
now lives was the principal public house, and callecF 
" The Blacksmith's Arms." The name was painted 
in rude letters upon a swing sign, suspended high 
between two posts that may have formed the orig- 
inal gallows of Haman. It was further illustratecF 
by a bent muscular arm, wielding a blacksmith's; 
hammer. The present generation remember the- 
Landing as a beautiful village with a row of fine- 
houses, at the summit of a gently rising green, and 
two neat white fences making two parallel roads 
and terraces, which, in contrast with the bokl,. 
abrupt mountain behind presented one of the most 
attractive and picturesque scenes on one of the 
most charming of rivers. 



j6 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

The most central, perhaps, of the dwellings, was 
the one alluded to above. It was then the resi- 
dence of Capt. James Green, and its high stone 
stoop facing both ways bespoke hospitality almost as 
plainly as its gaily painted sign. The brick house 
next north of this is a fine building of more recent 
date, and belonged to the Captain's son, Timothy. 
Next beyond stands the former residence of his 
■daughter Nancy (Mrs. Jared Spencer, Esq.,) and 
further on (the site of the bank building) was the 
forge and then the residence of Oliver Green. The 
next house to the " Arms " on the south side was 
the residence of Capt. Green's brother.in-law, Mr. 
Thomas Marshall. Next south lived his son Rich- 
avd ; next to that his daughter Hannah, Mrs. 
Joseph Hungerford. These buildings have been 
metamorphosed into the Maple Wood Music Sem- 
inary, and of the two generations who made music 
and uproar (opera) there, is now but an occasional 
visitor. Here then in the midst of his children 
lived Captain James Green, and just over the way, 
as first postmaster of East Haddam, he presided 
over that ei'ent in New England — the mail arrival 
and distribution. His descendants have nearly all 
left their native town, and have prospered and 
maintained the honor of the family name in the 
busy world of trade and progress, but they have 
never forgotten the old town, to which they return 
every summer, like pilgrims to their native shrine. 
Ihe family genealogy will be given in another 
<;hapter. 

Down near the steamboat clock, Noali Uurkley 



OF EAST HADDAM. IJ 

erected a large store and built up quite an exten- 
sive wholesale and importing trade with the West 
Indies. He owned a large farm in Millington, 
where he raised mules, which he used to send out 
in his vessels and exchange for molasses, sugar, etc. 
He bought the brick hotel built by Samuel Lord, 
where the Champion House stands, and accumu- 
lated considerable money. Like many others, he 
was wooed and won by the tempter in the person of 
Roswell C. Peck, who induced him to invest in a 
banking speculation in New York. 

He lost his property and went to Chicago, then 
in its infancy, and again became rich and well 
known as the *' Miser Money Lender." 

Ship building was begun at the Landing some 
time during the Revolutionary War, and formed 
quite an important branch of business till within a 
few years. Several coasting and generally two or 
three sea vessels were owned here. In the year 
1815, there were launched from this yard two brigs 
and three schooners. A few years later this branch 
of business was carried on, but less extensively, at 
Chapman's Ferry. At this time there was a gen- 
eral store near the Center Congregational Church, 
on the main road from Moodus to Hadlyme. Shad 
fishing has been carried on to quite an extent since 
the early settlement of the town, and for the last 
■seventy years has been quite profitable. Previous 
to this time this delicacy was hardly appreciated. 

Salmon River, which enters the Connecticut at 
the Landing, derives its name from the large num- 
ber of salmon formerly caught from it, but for 



18 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

many years none have been found, and the cele* 
brated fishermen at the Cove have now to rely on 
the small fry. 

The original settlers of East Haddam laid out 
the town into nine sections of three-fourths a mile 
square, and the roads running north and south 
were made that distance apart as boundaries for 
the same. In this " lay out," convenience and 
topography seem to have been of little account. 
Any one familiar with our roads will readily notice 
this observance of distance. 'J'he same distance is 
also observed to a certain extent in the roads run- 
ning east and west. 

"East Haddam and Colchester Turnpike," extend- 
ing from " East Haddam Landing to Colchester 
meeting house," was granted in October, 1809, with 
a capital stock of v$6,288. About the 3xar 1806 
a post-road was established from Middletown, 
through Chatham, to East Haddam Landing, and 
thence to New London. A turnpike from Nor- 
wich to New Haven, through East Haddam, was 
granted in 181 7. 



OF EAST HADDAM. 1 9 

CHAPTER III. 

MiLLlNGTON. 

According to Field's History, the first settler in 
Millington was Jonathan Beebe, from New Lon- 
don, who settled by the Long Pond about 1704, 
and was soon joined by several persons, who have 
now descendants in East Haddam. They settled 
west of the pond, on the hill about the Hayward 
farm, recently owned by Rowland Allen. Some 
traces of their houses still remain, yet most of them 
are completely obliterated. Except at this spot, 
there were no inhabitants in Millington until about 
1732-3-4, when families moved into it by the name 
of Arnold, Barnes, Brainard, Chapman, Church, 
Cone, Emmons, Fuller, Gates, Olmsted and Spen- 
cer, from East Haddam parish ; of Harvey and 
Hungerford, from Hadlyme ; of Clarke, from 
Haddam ; of Greaves, from Colchester ; and 
Stewart, from Voluntown ; Daniel Smith, from 
some part of Plymouth Colony ; Lemuel (iriffin, 
from Lyme, and Thomas Fox, from Colchester, 
settled here not long after. Millington Society 
was for a number of years the most thickly settled 
and influential portion of the town. In 1810 there 
were 172 dwelling houses in that Society, while in 
the first Society there were but 167. There were 
also a number of stores and a large local business 



20 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

carried on, Millington being the centre of trade 
for quite a large tract of country. 

With scarcely a solitary exception, those who 
now remain are tillers of the rugged soil, and are 
noted for their frugality, industry and hospitality. 
But alas ! the growing tendency of the age to cen- 
tralize in the cities and villages, and the tempting 
allurements of the South and West have shorn the 
town of much of her ancient renown. Many of her 
children sleep in her hillside graves, and many 
more' have wandered far and wide ; but none of 
them find happier hours than when they return to 
meet the hearty welcome of their native home. 
Sixty years ago the Middle or Green School Dis- 
trict numbered 69. The same district now has 
about one-third of that number. At the same 
time, the West District numbered 5 1 ; it now num- 
bers but 13. 

The Old Chimney Stacks form quite a prominent 
feature of the landscape. In Millington, the tan- 
yard at McLean's, which once carried on a large 
business, is now a mass of ruins. Just east of the 
yard is the cellar over which stood the house of 
Nathan Beebe, an uncle of Manly, and great uncle 
of Sherman Beebe. 

Sherman broke loose from the old farm and 
went to California in its early days, where he pros- 
pered, and returned to buy the large farm he now 
occupies in North Millington. He has seven sons, 
and is one of the towns heaviest tax-payers. 

Just west of the tan-yard, near the Dutton barn 
(s(j-called), stood another house, and a short dis- 



OF EAST HADDAM. 21 

tance north, on the. Colchester road, are ruins 
which mark the residences of families of Elys and 
Fullers. 

A half-mile south, on the corner, stands what is 
called the old Auger Stack, and farther on, near 
Alexander's shop, lived Deacon Diodate Lord. 

The Austin Beebe house is comparatively a late 
ruin. This corner, now so deserted, seems to have 
been quite a settlement many years ago. A store 
was kept here by Timothy Spencer, and just north, 
on the old stony road leading to Long Pond, lived 
Isham Fuller and Dr. Nye. The latter moved 
away and afterwards gained considerable renown. 
The old house below Deacon Ackley's was built by 
one Williams, one of the early settlers. " Wall 
street," the old road running north from the Green, 
is now entirely deserted. The store built by 
Ephraim Warner, near the entrance, and where 
considerable business was carried on, was long- 
since converted into Mr. Joseph Arnold's horse- 
shed. A short distance north was Ephraim War- 
ner's house, and further north, but short distances 
apart, stood the Marsh house, the Burke house, 
the Ephraim Arnold house, the Plum house, the 
Hall house, the Beri Gates house, and the Wickham 
house. 

Here large families were raised, and the street 
formed an important thoroughfare of the town. 
Now, grass and weeds grow over its travelled 
paths ; green mounds of house-leek, and rude piles 
of stone and mortar are the only evidences of for- 
mer civilization. A goodly portion of the north 



2 2 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

part of Millington Society was owned and occupied 
by the Arnolds — Ephraim, John and Joseph. The 
latter was the father of Isaiah Arnold, and the 
grandfather of Samuel and Joseph, Jr. Samuel 
has four children living, viz.: Fluvia, married L. 
W. Cone ; Nancy, married Charles Miner ; Eme- 
line, married W. 1.. Fuller; William lives in Brook- 
lyn, Long Island. 

Joseph, Jr., has one son, Joseph H., who married 
Harriet M. Swan, who died early in 1879. She 
left two children, Dwight and Fred, but the latter 
has since died. 

The old road leading southeast from Millington 
Green, or rather the road branching off from this 
to Chapman's Mills, was in early days a main 
thoroughfare, upon which several families lived, 
but which is now lonely, deserted and almost 
impassible — its silence seldom broken save by an 
occasional ox-cart rattling over the stones, or by 
the sharp crack of the hunter's gun. The terminus 
of the road, however, presents attractions which 
richly repay a rough and toilsome journey. The 
wild and romantic beauty of the scenery about 
Chapman's Mills is not surpassed by those historic 
spots about which volumes have been written. 
The pond here is the source of Eight-Mile River, 
which empties into Hamburg Cove. It starts with 
two separate outlets from a rocky island, and joins 
about a half-mile below. Both streams leap down 
rocky ledges over one hundred feet high, with a 
roar that can be heard far away. The grist mill, 
upon the right branch, has gone to ruin, but the saw 



OF EAST HADDAM. 23 

mill has been kept in running order. Between the 
two mills, on the island, stands the house now 
occupied by Cyrus W. Chapman, so that the place 
still retains the name of its original owner. It was 
owned and occupied for several years by Col. A. T. 
Niles, and here the writer spent many '* happy 
hours of childhood." 

Following the river from the point of its quiet 
and peaceful reunion, at tiie foot of the Falls, down 
over Kettle Hill, so called from the unfathomable 
circular holes in its rocky crest; along the old coal- 
pit, whose once black pit is now white with birches; 
by the rough chimney pile which marks the little 
house where Benjamin Banning raised nineteen 
children, whose exploits at "diving from mullin 
stalks into the dew " surprised many a morning 
teamster ; through the Hop-Yard, with its tall 
evergreens, its frowning precipices, and its Devil's 
Cave, and we reach the " Plain " with a feeling 
that we have journeyed through the wilderness and 
finally reached the promised land. The " Plain " 
forms the southeast corner of the town, and a part 
of Millington Society. 

The traveller here fnids a j^leasing landscape, 
with thrifty and well-cultivated farms, whicli were 
originally owned by settlers from the adjoining 
town of Lyme. The old chimney stack, which 
occupies so prominent a position just north of 
Nathan Jewett's, was known as the (jrififin house, 
where lived Edward Dorr Griffin, 1). D., President 
of Williamstown College. The old Jewett home- 
stead is just beyond the bridges over the Tyme 



24 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

Line. Returning to Millington Green, and taking 
the Hadlyme road south, we soon come to the old 
Spencer chimney stack, where lived Gen. Joseph. 
Spencer, of Revolutionary fame, w^ho will receive 
notice in a future letter. Here, too, David Brain- 
ard, the celebrated missionary, spent several years 
of his youth. Nearly opposite the Spencer place 
is the Williams' place, where lived Dr. Datus Wil- 
liams, a prominent physician of the town. He 
afterwards moved in near the Center Church, 
where he died a few years since. His son, George 
G., President of the Chemical Bank, New York 
City, has enlarged and beautified the place till it is 
now one of the finest in the town. He occupies it 
as a summer residence. A few rods south of the 
Spencer place is the I>yman place, where Dr. 
Lyman lived, who was for many years pastor of 
the Millington Church. In the woods, near Bald 
Hill, about two miles south of Millington Green, 
are the remains of an old house where lived one 
Will Fox. Near by is the Oakley house, where 
lived Dr. Root, father of Francis G. Root, of Lees- 
ville. Dr. Root afterwards lived at the Warner 
house, on Potash Hill. 



OF EAST HADDAM, 25 



CHAPTER IV. 

MOODUS. 

Mood us is a contraction of the Indian word 
Machimoodus, meaning " place of noises." For- 
merly the place was also called Mechanicsville, and 
was quite insignificant as compared with Milling- 
ton and the Landing, till within a few years. Now 
it is the most industrious and thickly settled por- 
tion of the town. An old teacher gives a descrip- 
tion of the place in 1815 : 

Assuming the boundaries to be the house of Wilbur Chap- 
man on the west, Wigwam Brook on the south, the Alanson 
Gates house on the east, and the Methodist Church on the 
north. There were eleven dwellings and other buildings as 
follows : 

The house of Mr. Chapman was then occupied by his 
grandfather, Robert B. Its roof was flat and covered with 
earth, from which sprang up a sparse vegetation and protected 
by a balustrade. There was a square-roofed building on the 
opposite side, then occupied by Erastus Chapman. These 
were white, standing out in strong contrast of color from all 
other buildings in the vicinity. On the stream just south of 
the road, and approached by a gate near where the road to the 
Neptune Twine Mills is now opened, was a saw-mill, and just 
below a carding mill and clothiers w^orks, in one of which the 
rolls were prepared for the wheel, and in the other, the cloth 
was colored and dressed. 

East of the Chapman house, on the same side, was the 
house of Ozias Chapman. Next came the house near the 
stream, occupied by ' Old Mr. Hurd,' who was on active duty 
at the Grist ]Mill when over ninety years of age. The stream 



26 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

was crossed by a bridge of planks a little above the present 
arch. Its position necessitated a curve in the road as we 
approached it, and an unfortunate young man who had passed 
an evening with a young lady in the neighborhood, on taking a 
straight course for home, instead of following the curve, found 
himself with a broken arm among the rocks in the stream. 

East of the bridge, occupying the ground where Smith's 
(Bodies') factory now stands, was the grist mill, with its overshot 
wheel, where boys waiting for their grists would look upon the 
mimic rainbows, and fancy their resemblance to those described 
in their 'American Preceptor,' as rising from the spray of 
Niagara. 

" Passing east to ' The Plain ' the next building was a dilap- 
dated old house occupied by Phineas Gates, which soon gave 
way to the dwelling occupied by Mr. Day. Across the street, 
in the house now occupied by Mr. Richmond, was Dr. Joseph 
Cone. This was only about two-thirds of its present dimen- 
sions. Quite a distance south was a small brown house, and a 
little south of that a small old house and a shoemaker's shop, 
and small building on the hillside sloping towards Wigwam 
Brook. East, on the Uashan Road, was the Alanson Gates 
{Daniel Lord) house, unpainted and the grounds unadorned. 
The street through the ' Plain ' was wider than it is now by 
mearly the depths of the yards on the east side, and was wholly 
destitute of trees. From Mr. Day's the road ' up town * 
•descended the hill in a northerly direction. The stream was 
■crossed by a bridge similar to the one described, and the road 
wound .araund and came out at the foot of the hill south of the 
.cemetery. Just north of the bridge referred to was a path 
running to .the east parallel with the stream, which passed a 
long, low building known as the ' Old Malt House,' then 
•curved and terminated at the grist mill, which stood where the 
itwine mill now stands. This patli was the only approach to 
tthe mill, and ^\■as so obstructed b)- a point of rocks that it 
could be passed only on horseback, and then the boy had to 
keep to the middle of it or his grist would be pushed off by the 
•rocks, or the corner (^f the mill. On the knoll, north of the 



OF EAST HADDAM. 27 

mill, stood a one-story, gabled roof house, for the accommoda- 
tion of the miller. This finishes the catalogue of buildings in 
Moodus in 18 15. 

The first step in advance was the erection of the 
stone mill and store, and other necessary buildings. 

The first school house in Moodus was built in 
1828. Previous to that the children were divided 
between Red Lane and *' Up Town " districts. 

Moodus, at the present time, is the center and 
most populous portion of the town. This has 
arisen from its fine water privileges, on which have 
been built several large cotton factories. 



28 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 



CHAPTER V. 

MooDus Noises. 

The Indians which inhabited the place were 
numerous, of a fierce and warHke character, and were 
remarkable for the worship of evil spirits. They 
called the town Machimoodus, which means, in 
English "the place of noises." A very suitable 
name, because of the noises or quakings which 
were familiarly called " Moodus Noises." The 
noises sometimes resemble the slow thunder, at 
others the rattling of musketry or the discharge of 
cannon. They have been the subject of much dis- 
cussion, and many theories have been advanced 
about their origin. An old Indian's reason was 
that " the Indian's God was very angry because 
the Englishman's God came here. Many persons 
credit the report of a transient person named Doc- 
tor Steele, from Great Britain, who, hearing about 
these noises, came here and dug up two pearls, 
which he called carbuncles. He told the people 
the noises would be discontinued for many years, 
as he had taken away their cause, but as he had 
discovered other smaller ones, they would be heard 
again in the process of time. Notwithstanding the 
absurdity of this prophecy, it seemed to prove itself 
correct, for the noises did cease for many years, 
but finally returned. The Doctor was a myste- 
rious sort of a person, and in order to allay the 



OF EAST HA 1)1) AM. 29 

fears of the simple and terrified inhabitants, arising 
by reason of the noises, attempted many magical 
operations, and for this purpose took possession of 
a blacksmith's shop, which stood on the hill north- 
west of the Atlantic Duck Mill, in which he worked 
night and day, excluding all light so as to prevent 
any prying curiosity from interfering with his 
occult operations. He claimed that the carbuncle 
had grown to a great size in the bowels of the 
rocks and must be removed. The Doctor finally 
departed, and has never been heard of since. 
From this circumstance arose this ballad, by John 
G. C. Brainard, editor of the Hartford Minor : 

MACHIT-MOODUS. 



.See you, upon the lonely moor, 

A crazy building rise ? 
No hand dares venture to open the door — 
No footstep treads its dangerous floor — 

No eye in its secret pries. 

Now why is each crevice stopped so tight ? 

Say, why the bolted door ? 
Why glimmers at midnight the forge's light ? 
All day is the anvil at rest, but at night 

The flames of the furnace roar. 

Is it to arm the horses' heel, 

That the midnight anvil rings? 
Is it to mould the ploughshare's steel. 
Or is it to guard the wagon's wheel. 

That the smith's sledge hammer swings ? 



30 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

The iron is bent, and the crucible stands 

With alchymy boiling up ; 
Its contents are mixed by unknown hands, 
And no mortal fire e'er kindled the brands 

That heated that cornered cup. 

O'er Moodus river a light has glanced, 

On Moodus hills it shone ; 
On the granite rocks the rays have danced. 
And upwards those creeping lights advanced 

Till they met on the highest stone. 

Oh ! that is the very wizard place, 

And now is the wizard hour. 
By the light that was conjured up to trace, 
E'er the star that falls can run its race. 

The seat of the earthquake's power. 

By that unearthly light, I see 

A figure strange, alone, 
With magic circlet on his knee. 
And, decked with Satan's symbols, he 

Seeks for the hidden stone. 

Now upward goes that gray old man. 
With mattock, bar and spade — 
The summit is gained and the toil begun, 
And deep by the rock where the wild lights run, 
The magic trench is made. 

Loud, and yet louder was the groan, 

That sounded wide and far ; 
And deep and hollow was the moan 
That rolled around the bedded stone. 

Where the workman plied his bar. 



OF EAST HADDAM. 3^ 

Then upward streamed the brilliant hght— 

It streamed o'er crag and stone ; 
Dim looked the stars and the moon that night, 
But when morning came in her glory bright, 

The man and the jewel were gone. 

But woe to the bark in which he flew 

From Moodus rocky shore — 
Woe to the captain and woe to the crew, 
That ever the breath of life they drew, 

When that dreadful freight they bore. 

Where is that crew and vessel now ? 

Tell me their state who can. 
The wild waves dashed o'er the sinking bow- 
Down, down to the fathomless depths they go- 
To sleep with a sinful man. 

The carbuncle lies in the deep sea. 

Beneath the mighty wave ; 
But the light shines up so gloriously 
That the sailor looks pale and forgets his glee. 

When he crosses the wizard's grave. 

Many theories have been advanced as to the 
cause of these noises. One is that there is a sub- 
terranean passage leading from a large cave near 
Mt. Tom to the sea, and that the noises are pro- 
duced by certain delicate combinations of wind and 
tide. A more reasonable explanation of their 
cause is, that there exist mineral or chemical com- 
binations, which explode many feet below the 
earth's surface. The jar produced by the noises is 
like that of exploded gunpowder. 



32 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 



CHAPTER VI. 
Middlesex County. 

Middlesex County was formed in the year 1785. 
Previous to that time the inhabitants of the several 
towns repaired to the courts in the counties to 
which they previously belonged, when a resort to 
law was necessary to obtain redress. Several gen- 
tlemen from these towns appear, from the records 
of the Colony and State of Connecticut, to have 
seats in the Courts of Hartford, New London, and 
New Haven counties, previous to the formation of 
Middlesex County. Hon. Joseph Spencer, of East 
Haddam, was Justice of the Quorum for Hartford 
County from May 1778 to 1779. As previously 
mentioned, Gen. Dyer Throop, of East Haddam, 
was the first Judge of the Middlesex County Court. 

Among the Justices of the Quorum from the 
same county there were from East Haddam, Jabez 
Chapman, Esq., from 1795 ^o 1802 ; Col. Eliphelet 
Holmes, from 1802 to 1817; Col. Josiah Griffin, 
from 1 81 7 to 181 8. 

The State's Attornies for the county from its 
formation to the year 1820 were : Hon. Asher Mil- 
ler, of Midletown, from 1785 to 1794; Hon. Samuel 
W. Dana, of Middletown, from 1794 to 1797 ; Hon. 
J. O. Moseley, of East Haddam, from 1797 to 1805 ; 
Hon. S. T. Hosmer, of Middletown, from 1805 to 



OF EAST HADDAM. ^;^ 

1815 ; Matthew T. Russel, Esq., of Middletown, 
from 1815 to 1818 ; Major Andre Andrews, of 
Middletown, from 181 8. 

The Sheriffs of the county were : WilUam W. 
Parsons, of Middletown, from 1785 to 1791; Enoch 
Parsons, Esq., of Middletown, from 1791 to 1818 ; 
J. Lawrence Lewis, Esq., of Middletown; from 1818 
to 1827; Gideon Higgins, Esq., of East Haddam, 
from 1827 to 1830 ; Linus Coe, of Middletown, 
from 1830 to 1839 ; Charles Arnold, of Haddam, 
from 1839 to 1845 i Charles Stevens, of Clinton, 
from 1845 ^o 1 85 1. Since that time the office has 
been held by Dr. Burr, of Killingworth, Curtis 
Bacon, of Middletown, Charles Snow, of Deep 
River, J. L Hutchinson, of Essex, the present in- 
cumbent, and Arba Hyde. 

The Probate District of East Haddam was 
formed in October, 1741, and embraced the towns 
of Haddam, East Haddam, Colchester, Hebron, 
and that part of Middletown (now Chatham) lying 
south of the Salmon River. Haddam was taken 
from this and united to a new district in 1752, and 
Hebron in 1789. Colchester has remained a part 
of this district till within a few years. The first 
Judge of this Court was Hon. John Bulkley, of Col- 
chester, from 1 741 to 1753 ; Hon. James Spencer, 
of East Haddam, from 1753 to 1789. In 1776, 
while the latter was out of the State, Daniel Brain- 
ard, Esq., of East Haddam, was appointed to act as 
Judge, while Judge Spencer was connected with 
•the armies of the United States. Isaac Spencer, 



34 THE OLD CHl.MNEY STACKS 

Esq., of East Haddam, succeeded James Spencer, 
and held the office for twenty-nine years. 

I'he following persons were appointed Justices 
of the Peace, or, as they were formerly called. 
Commissioners, for East Haddam, at the time of 
the formation of the County: Gen, Dyer, Throop, 
Col. Jabez Chapman, Israel Spencer, Timothy 
Gates. 

In 1815 there were 421 families in town, divided 
among the religious denominations as follows : 
Congregationalists, 286; Episcopalians, fifty-five; 
Baptists, seventy-two; Methodists, eight. 

Our great-grandfathers drew rather nicer distinc- 
tions between right and wrong than their innocent 
descendants of the present day. A little of the old 
leaven than with which they vitalized their laws 
would not be unhealthy for present use, while 
many of their enactments would be somewhat im- 
practicable. I copy from an old Connecticut JRegis- 
fer, dated 1793, an " Act to be read at the opening 
of every Freemen's Meeting." 

'' Be it enacted^ etc., That if any person shall en- 
deavor to persuade or influence any other person 
or persons in giving their vote or suffrage for any 
Member of the Legislature by offering to any per- 
son or persons any written vote or votes for that 
purpose without being first thereto requested, such 
person so offending shall pay a fine of forty shill- 
ings, for the use of the Town Treasury." 

Following the above are several " Acts " of like 
import. 



OF EAST HADDAM. 35 

Here are some of the Acts for putting in execu- 
tion good and wholesome laws for restraining irre- 
ligious practices and disorders : 

''Be it enacted, etc., That the Selectmen from 
time to time shall diligently enquire of all House- 
holders how they are furnished with Bibles, and if, 
upon such enquiry, any Householder be found 
without one Bible at least, then the Selectmen shall 
warn the said Householder forthwith to procure 
one Bible at least for the use and benefit of their 
Families respectively ; and if the same be neglected, 
then the said selectman shall make return thereof 
to the next authority, who may deal with such 
Householder's Family according to the directions 
of the Law relating to the educating and governing 
of children. * * And the Constables and Grand 
Jurymen in the respective Towns shall, on the 
evenings after the Lord's Day and other public 
Days of Religious Solemnity, walk the street and 
duly search all places suspected for harboring or 
entertaining any People or Persons assembled con- 
trary to law." 

Another act provides that '' it shall be the duty 
of the Selectmen to see that all families are sup- 
plied with a suitable number of Orthodox Cate- 
chisms and other good Books of practical Godli- 
ness and the like." 

The circumstances under which the early settlers 
were placed rendered it necessary that they should 
be trained in the use of firearms, and local military 
organizations were to be found in all parts of the 



30 THE OLD CHIMNtV STACKS 

country. In the earlier history of the town com- 
l^anies of East Haddam belonged to the 12th Reg- 
iment. In 1776 East Haddam and Colchester 
were formed into the 24th Regiment. A company 
from Hadlyme belonged to the 33d Regiment. 

The different commanders of the 24th Regiment 
from East Haddam were Gen. Dyer Throop, Jabez 
Chapman, David B. Spencer, Gen. Epaph Cham- 
pion, Jon. O. Moseley, Josiah Griffin and Jonah 
Gates. 

In 18 1 6 there was a general reorganization of the 
Militia throughout the State, which was preserved 
till within a few years. It is within the memory of 
our young men that " Training Days," were great 
events in the history of the town, from which all 
other events were dated. Soldiers with their tall 
hats and taller plumes, dressed in showy uniforms, 
met in companies in the different societies in town, 
once a year, where they were drilled in the manual 
of arms — marched in sections, platoons, and by 
company, and dismissed after several general dis- 
charges of musketry. How the boys reverenced 
those famous soldiers! The greatest scalawag in 
town, upon these occasions, was transformed into a 
hero, in their eyes, as long as he wore the regi- 
mentals. Among the early captains of the com- 
panies were : 

East HaddaxM North Comfanv. — Samuel Olm- 
sted, Stephen Cone, Thomas Gates, Daniel Gates, 
Caleb Chapman, John Percival, Joshua Percival, 
Gen. Dyer Throop, Jonathan Olmsted, Jonathan 



OF EAST HADDAM. 37 

Kilbourn, Jehial Fuller, Levi Palmer, Abner Hale, 
Dea. Caleb Gates, Elisha Cone, Darius Gates, 
Darius Brainard, William Palmer. 

East Haddam South Company. — John Chap- 
man, John Holmes, Nathan Smith, Jabez Chap- 
man, Daniel Cone, Bezaliel Brainard, Dea. James 
Gates, Matthew Smith, Maj. Daniel Cone, Col. 
David Spencer, Elijah Ackley, Gen. E. Champion, 
Jeremiah Smith, Robert Cone, Samuel P. Lord, 
Richard Green, Joseph Church, Samuel Crowel. 

Millington North Company. — Joseph Arnold, 
William Church, John Willey, Enoch Brainard, 
Amasa Dutton, John Arnold, Noadiah Emmons, 
Nathaniel Lord, Maj. N. Emmons, Aaron Fox, 
Oliver Church, Diodate Lord, Hezekiah Loomis, 
Manley Beebe. 

Millington South Company. — Jared Spencer, 
John McCall, Aaron Cleaveland, Jonah Cone, Wil- 
liam Cone, Ebenezer Dutton, Nathan Jewett, John 
Chapman, Joseph Gates, Robert Anderson, Amos 
Randal, Col. Josiah Griffin, Diodate Jones, Samuel 
Morgan, Gardner Gallop, Uriah Spencer, David G. 
Otis, Jon. Beckwith, Berah Beckwith. 

Hadlyme Company. — Dea. Chris. Holmes, Eph. 
Fuller, Eb. Spencer, John Shaw, Col. Eliph 
Holmes, Zach. Hungerford, Abraham Willey, Eb. 
Holmes, Jab. Comstock, Chas. Spencer, Newton 
Marsh, Ben. Crosby, Rob. Hungerford, Chauncey 
Beckwith, Calvin Comstock, Ozias Holmes. 

(The above is taken largely from Field's 
History.) 



38 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 



CHAPTER VII. 
The First Congregational Society. 

The inhabitants on this side of the river began 
to act as an ecclesiastical society about 1700. The 
first church formed January 6th, 1704. First 
meeting house stood near Isaac Ackley's in the 
street. It was thirty-two feet square, and was five 
years in building ; used twenty-three years. Sec- 
ond house, finished in 1728. It stood in the street, 
near Henry Thompson's. The third, or present 
church, was dedicated November 27th, 1794, and 
to this day wears the same coat of shingles. The 
first minister in the Society was Rev. Stephen 
Hosmer, who died June i8th, 1749, aged 70. He 
lived nearly opposite Vine B. Star's, at the Creek 
Row. 

The following was copied from a manuscript in 
the possession of Joshua Green, M. D., of Groton, 
Massachusetts : 

A DISTICH, 

Occasioned by ye marriage of Mr. Robert Hosmer, of 
East Haddam, and Mary Green, the only daughter of Timothy 
Green, of New London (Oct. yt 31st, 1745.) 

COMPOSED 1!V HER FATHER. 

Thro' the Divine favour, b(;th the Brides-grooms' parents and ye 
Bride's Parents are yet living, and consented to this marriage. 



OF EAST HADDAM. 39 

I. 
You now in marriage have joined hands 

And are become Bridegroom and Bride, 
'Tis God who has incUned your hearts 

So very near to be ally'd. 

II. 
Having passed thrt)Uoh your SingleState 

And entered on ye married one, 
New Duties you'll find springing up 

And always calUng to be done. 



And now, my Son, I you Intreat 
Be ever tender to your wife. 

And you, my daughter, I exhort, 
To love your husband as y'r Life. 



i\' 



May both of you Examples be. 
And be adorned with every Grace 

Be circumspect in y'r whole Walk 
And know ye duties of y'r Place . 



I wish you Joy in this y'r Choice, 
And Sorrow too, if God sees best. 

Which shall promote y'r real Ciood, 
And fitt you for eternal rest. 

And Isaac took Rebecca, and she became his wife, and he 
loved her.— 6^^^. xxiv., 67. 

There was a marriage in Cana of Galilee, and both Jesus 
was called and his disciples to the marriage.— Jo/m ii., i-2. 

And her neighbors and her cousins rejoiced with her.— 
l.'uke i, 5-8. 



40 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

Rev. Joseph Fowler succeeded Mr. Hosmer. 
He was born in Lebanon ; installed May 15th, 
1751; died 1771, aged 48. 



Rev. Elijah Parsons, born at Northampton, 
Mass. Graduated Yale 1768 ; installed October 
28th, 1772 ; died January 17th, 1827, aged 79. 



His son, Isaac Parsons, succeeded him. Born in 
Southampton, Mass. Graduated Yale 1811 ; or- 
dained October 23d, 1816 ; dismissed April ist, 
1856 ; died August 21st, 1868, at the house of 
Robt. W. Chapman, in Mood us. 



He was succeded by Rev. Silas W. Robbins. He 
was born in Dorset, Vt.; graduated at Wesleyan 
University, in 1847 ; installed October i6th, 1856 ; 
dismissed 187 1, He is now located at Rockville, 
Connecticut. 



The present pastor is Rev. Solomon McCall, 
who is a native of Lebanon, Ct.; graduated at 
Yale 185 1 ; was pastor in Old Saybrook, Ct., from 
December, 1853 to November, 187 1 ; installed in 
East Haddam June 5th, 1872. 



OF EAST HADDAM. 4I 

CHAPTER A'lII. 

MiLLiNGTON Ecclesiastical Society. 

The following is the first record of the society of 
Millington : "At a society meeting warned accord- 
ing to directions of ye law, to be holden on ye third 
day of December, Anno Domini, 1733, at ye man- 
sion house of Jonathan Chapman, in ye parish of 
Millington, in ye town of Haddam, John Bulkley 
was chosen Moderator at said meeting, and James 
Cone was chosen Clerk and sworn to a faithful dis- 
charge of his office by John Bulkley, justice of the 
peace. Samuel Emmons, Samuel Olmstead, and 
Matthias Fuller were chosen society committee. 
Also, it was voted that ye society will engage some 
suitable person to preach ye gospel to ye people in 
this society ; also, it was voted that the committee 
as above said shall apply themselves to ye Rev. 
Mr. Hosmer for his advice and directions in their 
endeavors to engage some person to preach 
among them as aforesaid." 

The meetings of the society were held at the 
house of Mr. John Chapman for a number of 
years. As near as I can ascertain, his house stood 
near the lower part of the hop yard. The Rev. 
Mr. Hosmer, alluded to in the above report, was at 
that time pastor of the church in the first society. 
It appears by the records that the society made 
several applications for preachers before they sue- 



42 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

ceeded in having a permanent settlement. The 
first rehgious services were held for a considerable 
period in a house standing near the " Burke 
House," on Wall street. It appears that the first 
call for preaching was given a Mr. Williams, for at 
a meeting held December, 1734, it is recorded, 
'^ that ye society will not give Mr. Williams forty 
shillings a day for preaching ye gospel to ye peo- 
ple in said society." At a society meeting held 
March 7th, 1735, it was voted that the committee 
be instructed to engage the services of the Rev. 
Mr, Hosmer, and, in case he refused, to apply to 
the Rev. Nathaniel Brainard. 

At the same time there was voted the sum of 
seventy pounds a year for the support of the min- 
istry. June 30th, 1736, the society applied to the 
Rev. Mr. Brown, and engaged him to preach the 
gospel for two months at thirty-five shillings a day. 
At a subsequent meeting, held in September, 1736, 
the society voted a call to Rev. Timothy Symmes, 
and as an inducement it was '' further voted that 
ye society will give Mr. Symmes three hundred and 
twenty pounds towards his settlement, and thirty 
pounds in labor towards building him a house, also 
one hundred pounds salary and find him his fire- 
wood ; and that ye society will clear, break up, 
fence, and sow with wheat, two acres of land, the 
first year Mr. Symmes is an ordained minister in 
said society, and also plant out one hundred of 
apple trees on said land ye next spring after it is 
sowed with wheat." 



OF EAST HADDAiM. 43 

This call was accepted by Mr. Symmes in a letter 
dated October 26th, 1736. It appears from the 
records of these early days of the society that the 
good people were early risers and transacted their 
business in the early part of the day, for their 
society meetings were generally adjourned " to ye 
hour of eight of ye clock in the morning." 

It seems that perfect harmony among the mem- 
bers of the society was as rare a virtue a hundred 
3'ears ago as now. For a number of years the 
society suffered by a division arising from a differ- 
ence, partially doctrinal, but more from different 
views in regard to forms. Finally, at a society 
meeting, held the 17th of April, 1776, "it was voted 
not to oppose a number of said parish who call 
themselves Old Fathers and Dissenters of New 
England, if they should apply to the Hon. General 
Assembly of this colony to be made a district 
Ecclesiastical Society." 

Several legacies were granted to the society from 
time to time. The first one was bequeathed by 
Mr. Samuel Gates, who died August 21st, 1801, of 
two hundred and sixty dollars. 

A farm was also given by Mr. Simeon Chapman, 
who died March 31st, 1813 ; but to be used by his 
children during life. This bequest amounted to 
four thousand two hundred and eighty dollars. 

A legacy of fourteen hundred and forty dollars 
was also left by Thomas Beebe, who died June 6th, 
1 81 6. He was a son of Dr. Beebe, who lived a 
short distance southeast of the Estabrook house. 



44 1"HE OLD CHIiMNEY STACKS 

A part of the old chimney still remains. Dr. Beebe 
was a strong Tory during the Revolutionary War, 
and made himself so obnoxious that a party headed 
by Capt. Aaron Fox took him from the house one 
night and gave him a coat of tar and feathers, 

Thomas, the legator, was not religiously inclined, 
and it is said that he did not make his bequest 
because he loved the society more, but that 
he loved his family less. Capt. Aaron Fox was for 
a number of years captain of the Millington militia. 
His grandfather, Ebenezer, was one of the earliest 
settlers of Millington. He was one of three 
brothers who came from England. One of them 
settled in Massachusetts, one in Rhode Island, and 
Ebenezer in Foxtown, where he built a log house 
near the old house built by Aaron Fox, and now 
owned by Matthew Fox. The brothers occasion- 
ally visited each other, taking the journey through 
the wilderness on horseback, their wives riding 
behind them. 

A portion of the house where Ebeneezer, a son 
of Aaron, recently died, was built by Enoch 
Arnold, about one hundred and fifty years ago. 
People came from a great distance to the raising. 
It was covered with white-oak clap boards, securely 
fastened with wrought nails. Two of the original 
rooms still remain. The Old Chimney Stack, just 
west of Charles Swan's, is what remains of a house 
built and occupied by Brockway Beebe, and later 
by Josiah W, Willey. Turner Miner came from 
New London about the year 1770, and erected a 



OF EAST HADDAM. 45 

house where Charles Swan hves. The place was 
subsequently bought by Rufus Swan, who gave it 
to his son Wheeler. Turner Miner married a 
daughter of General Joseph Spencer by his second 
wife. The wife of Deacon Jeremiah Hutchins and 
Mrs. James Stranahan are daughters of Mr. Miner, 
and consequently granddaughters of Gen. Spencer. 
Rev. Nathaniel Miner, who preached in Millington 
for a number of years, is a nephew of Turner 
Miner. 

The old Estabrook house, on Millington Green, 
and long known as the parsonage, was built by 
Rev. Hobert Estabrook, who came from Canter- 
bury and settled in Millington. Preached and died 
there in 1766. Hobert 2, born 1748, at Millington. 
Moved to Lebanon, N. H., and died in 1839, aged 
91. He married Hannah Paddleford, who died 
May 24th, at Chatham, Conn. 

Children : 

Hannah, married Hurlbert Swan ; she died Sep- 
tember 1 8th, 1 83 1, aged 57. 

Jerusha, born September i8th, 1775 ; died March 
31st, 1863 ; married Ira Gates. 

Mary, died in infancy ; Mary 2, married George 
Little, of Pennsylvania ; she died September 13th, 
1836. They had four sons, who are lawyers, prom- 
inent in their profession and well off. One resides 
in Tunkhannock, Pa.; one in Towanda ; one in 
Montrose, and one in Bloomsburg. They all have 
sons who are lawyers. 

Annie married Ambrose Niles about 1780, 



46 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

Children : Wm. H., founder of the Sejitinel and 
Witness of Middletown. He and his three chil- 
dren are dead. His widow, aged 84, lives with the 
writer at Whitestone, N. Y. Col. Aaron Tarbox 
Niles married Rachel Ann Harris, of Millington. 
Had five children. All the family except the writer 
died many years ago. 

Annie Estabrook Niles, married second, John 
Markham, of Chatham, in 181 2. She died in 1849, 
aged 71. He died in 1852, aged 96. Their de- 
scendants mostly live in Chatham. 

Olive Estabrook died young. 

Hobert 3, born May 9th, 1787, married Ascenath 
Harvey, of Millington. In November, 1827, he was 
appointed Commissioner of Lands, 16,000 acres be- 
longing to the Connecticut School Fund, and moved 
to Newfield, N. Y. He died at Havana in 1872. 
Children : Robert, resides at Newfield. His chil- 
dren live near by. Rhoda married a Rockwell ; 
Mary, an Alexander ; Isaac, a Smith ; Clara, an 
Allen ; Addie is unmarried and lives at home. 

George, son of Hobert, lives at Andover ; Her- 
man lives at Ithaca ; has one son, William. 



OF EAST HADDAM, 47 



CHAPTER IX. 

MiLLiNGTON Congregational Church. 

The first meeting house was erected in Milling- 
ton in 1743. It was fifty by forty feet, and stood 
on the Green, a few rods south of the present 
church. The building of the present house was 
proposed in Society meeting, January 21st, 1832, 
when it was '' voted that the Society build a meet- 
ing house 32 feet by 44, from 16 to 18 feet posts, 
with a steeple not exceeding 60 feet in height." 
The house was built by Mr. Edward Worthington 
and dedicated to divine service on the 23d of Jan- 
uary, 1833. The Society tendered Mr. Worthing- 
ton a vote of thanks for faithful discharge of his 
work. For the excellent bell on the church the 
Society were mainly indebted to John Chapman 
and William H. Cone — to the former for his liberal 
subscription ; to the latter for his great activity in 
the matter. 

The first minister in Millington was Rev. Tim- 
othy Symmes, of Scituate, Mass., who was ordained 
December 2d, 1736. Dr. Field says: "In the 
great revival of religion which spread in New Eng- 
land a few years after his ordination, his feelings 
were extravagantly raised, and he prosecuted his 
work with a zeal not according to his knowledge. 
This gave rise to difficulties which ended in his 
dismission in 1743." 



48 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

He was succeeded by Mr. Hobart Esterbrook, 
son of the Rev. Mr. Esterbrook, of Canterbury. 
He graduated at New Haven in 1736, and was or- 
dained in Millington, November 20th, 1745. He 
was a steady, judicious and faithful minister, and 
is remembered with respect and affection by his 
people. He died January 28th, 1766, in the 50th 
year of his age and 20th of his ministry. (For a 
record of their descendants see chapter eight.) His 
first wife was Miss Hannah Williams, of Mansfield, by 
whom he had two daughters, who died young. 
His second wife was Jerusha Chauncey, daughter 
of the Rev. Isaac Chauncey, of Hadley, Mass., by 
whom he had four children. She died June 17th, 
1776, aged 62 years, and was buried beside her hus- 
band in Millington burying ground. 

The next minister in Millington was Mr. Diodate 
Johnson, who was ordained July 2d, 1767. He 
was a son of the Rev. Stephen Johnson, of Lyme, 
was educated at Yale College, where he took his 
first degree in 1764, and became a tutor. En- 
dowed with superior genius and learning, and 
animated with fervent zeal for his work, he entered 
the ministry with the fairest prospects of useful- 
ness. His labors, however, was soon ended, for 
consumption closed his life January 15th, 1773, at 
the early age of 28. He was sitting in his chair 
reading an article in " Doddrige's Rise and Pro- 
gress," entitled " A Meditation and Prayer suited 
to the Case of a Dying Christian," when struck 
with death. 



OF EAST HADDAM. 49 

Rev. Eleazer Sweetland was installed May 21st, 
1777. He was a native of Hebron, and graduated 
at Dartmouth College, in 1774. He died March 
25th, 1787, aged 36 years, much beloved and re- 
spected by all who knew him. He left a wife and 
three children, who moved soon after from Mill- 
ington. 

Rev. William Lyman, D. D., was ordained De- 
cember 13th, 1787. He maintained his pastoral 
relation with the church at Millington for thirty-five 
years, and was known as one of the most popular 
and eloquent preachers in this part of the country. 
He had a powerful voice, an easy flow of words, 
and all his writings were stamped with vigor and 
power. In the latter part of his ministry he be- 
came afflicted with hypochondria. This, with his 
independent manner, finally aroused an opposition 
among his people, and at a society meeting held 
on the 23d of May, 1822, it was voted "that a 
committee of five be appointed to consult the in- 
terests of the society, especially as it respects our 
relations with Dr. Lyman as our minister." Wil- 
liam Cone, Esq., Deacon N. B. Beckwith, Deacon 
Israel Cone, Russel Dutton, Esq., and Captain 
Hobart Esterbrook, were appointed as said com- 
mittee. The committee reported against the Doc- 
tor, and on the last Wednesday in August, at a 
meeting of the Ecclesiastical Council, the relation 
between pastor and people was dissolved. His 
farewell sermon, replete with denunciations of the 
sins and shortcomings of his flock, was delivered 



50 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

with such vigor and eloquence that the long years 
which have intervened have failed to obliterate its 
impressions from the minds of those who heard 
him, and his hymn about the conspiracy of " wicked 
men " was in keeping with his sermon. Many 
anecdotes are related of Dr. Lyman's dry humor 
and eccentricity, which he often carried to the 
pulpit. 

In his day the temperance agitation had scarcely 
commenced, and the indulgence of the social glass 
among the higher class was much more common 
than now. The clergy and the elders were wont 
to meet and discuss grave matters over their toddy 
with a freedom that would be quite scandalous in 
these days. Mr. Elijah Parsons used to call regu- 
larly upon an old lady of the same name who lived 
where Charles Babcock now resides in the Landing 
and get his mug of " flip." The old lady, knowing 
his hours, used to have her ^' flip-iron " hot, and 
concoct his favorite beverage with dexterity and 
skill. Dr. Lyman and Rev. Mr. Vail, of Hadlyme, 
who were his cotemporaries, were wont, at regular 
intervals to meet him at the " Blacksmith's Arms," 
(the house north of Maplewood Seminary), and 
discuss grave matters belonging to their profession 
over their " mugs of flip." So, too, in those days, 
the General Assembly used to open with an elec- 
tion sermon, which furnished an occasion for a gen- 
eral gathering of the clergy throughout the State. 
Great dinners were furnished at the expense of the 
State, and '^ Santa Cruz " was a prominent feature 



OF EAST HADDAM. 51 

of the bill of fare. It is related of Dr. Lyman that 
at an Ecclesiastical Council held in Westchester, 
when the company, being invited to refresh them- 
selves at the sideboard, one of his ministerial 
brethren suggested that their first refreshment 
should be to wash off the dust of travel, the Doctor 
decided the matter by the following epigram : 

Our fathers of old 
First washed their eyes, 
And then their throats ; 
But we, their sons, more wise, 
Will wash our throats, 
And then our eyes. 

One day, being met on the street by a friend, he 
was accosted with : 

" Good morning. Doctor ; what is the news ?" 

" There is great news," replied the Doctor ; " I 
just saw a man up here at Boardman's store swal- 
lowing a dozen ax-helves !" 

" I declare! how did he do it ?" 

" Why, it seems very easy ; he had traded his 
helves for liquor, and when I left he had poured 
nearly all of them down his throat." 

At a time of great drought the Doctor arose in his 
pulpit one morning and prayed for rain in this 
wise : " Oh, Lord, we pray Thee to send down 
copious and refreshing showers, that the parched 
earth may revive and bring forth grass— /^^^^^•^^•'" 

Dr. Lyman moved to Western New York, where 
he died several years ago. Soon after his dismis- 
sion a wonderful revival of religion occurred in 



52 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

Millington, under the ministry of the Rev. Mr. 
Saxon, called to this day by the good people of 
Millington *' The Great Revival." 

Dr. Lyman was succeeded by the Rev. Hermon 
Yail, who was ordained April 6th, 1825. In Sep- 
tember, 1827, Mr. Vail asked for a dismission from 
his pastoral charge, which was granted by the Ec- 
clesiastical Council soon after. For nearly three 
years afterwards the society was without any regu- 
lar pastor. In 1830, the Rev. Nathaniel Miner 
received a call from the society, which he declined, 
principally on account of the dilapidated condition 
of the old meeting house. He occupied the pul- 
pit, however, as a stated supply for three years, 
and was installed as their regalar pastor May 28th, 
1833, which was after the erection and dedication 
of the new meeting house. 

Mr. Miner was born in Stonington, Connecticut, 
educated at the " Literary and Theological Sem- 
inary " of Bangor, Maine, and received the hon- 
orary degree of Master of Arts from Amherst Col- 
lege in 1840. He was ordained at Chesterfield 
(Montville), October, 1826 ; went to Millington 
from Bozrahville in 1830. His salary was at first 
$375, then $450, and finally $500 per year. Near 
the close of his ministry in Millington a small farm 
was purchased, formerly owned by Rev. Hobart 
Esterbrook, and on it was erected what is now 
known as the Millington parsonage. 

Mr. Miner married Emeline S. Ransom, of 
Salem, by whom he had five children. Three of 



OF EAST HADDAM. 53 

them are living, "two are not and yet are." He 
was dismissed from his pastoral charge in Milling- 
ton at his own request by the Middlesex Consocia- 
tion at their annual meeting held at Essex, October, 

1858. Since that time he has resided in Salem, and 
has retired from active service. 

Mr. Miner occupies a large space in the affec- 
tionate remembrance of his parishioners. As a 
minister, he was ever earnestly devoted to the ser- 
vice of his Master, and the welfare of his flock ; as 
a neighbor, his genial kindness, his sociability, and 
the hospitality of his home made his religion a 
practical reality instead of an abstract theory. 
For the young (and in this relation the writer's 
recollection of him will always add pleasure to 
memory,) he ever had a kind word and a helping 
hand, which wielded an influence for good. 

Mr. Miner was succeeded by Rev. A. C. Beach, 
from Wolcot, Conn. He was born at Orange, N. 
J.; a graduate of Yale College, in 1835, and was 
installed as pastor of the church in Millington in 

1859. He was dismissed in 1876, and was suc- 
ceeded by the Rev. Mr. Griswold, who is still in 
charge. 

The deacons of the Congregational Church in 
Millington since its organization have been as 
follows : 

Name. Elected. Died. Age. 

Samuel Emmons, Oct., 1736 

Daniel Gates, Oct., 1736 

Gen. Jos. Spencer, Nov. 20, 176? Jan. 13, 1789 75 

Samuel Button, July 4, 1771 Dec. 30, 1790 87 



54 



THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 



Name. 


Elected. 


Died. Age. 


Ebenezer Dutton, 


Feb. 26, 1778 


Moved to Lebanon 


Benjamin Fuller, 


Feb. 26, 1778 


Nov. 10, 1815 93 


Nathaniel Cone, 


May, 1789 


Apr. 15, 1790 78 


Barzillail Beckwith, 


June 4, 1790 


Feb. 22, 1818 79 


Isaac Spencer, 


April I, 1796 






Diodate Lord, 


Aug. 26, 1816 


Moved awaj'. 


Israel Cone, Jr., 


April 17, 1818 






Nathaniel Beckwith, 


April 17, 1818 


1858 — 


Wm. E. Cone, 


Moved to Moodus. 


Deacon in ist Congre- 
gational Church. 


Samuel Arnold, 


April 30, 1 84 1 


Now in office. 


Epaphroditus Gates, 


Aug. 27, 1858 




Charles Miner, 




Now in office. 



OF EAST HADDAM . 55 

CHAPTER X. 

HaDLVME. HUNGERFORD AND WiLLEY FAMILIES. 

The Society of Hadlyme was formed from East 
Haddam Society, and Eyme Third Society, in 
October, 1742. About two-thirds of the Society is 
in East Haddam. The meeting house was erected 
soon after. The church was organized with ten 
male members on the 20th of June 1745? at the 
house of Lieut. John Comstock, and on the i8th of 
September following the P.ev. Grindal Rawson was 
installed its pastor. Here is a copy of the original 
record : 

" Att a General Assembly holden att New Haven, 
on the 14th Day of October Ano: dom — 1742 — 
Upon the memorial of Isaac Willey, Stephen 
Scovil, John Comstock and other members of the 
first Society in East Haddam and the third Society 
in Lyme prefered to this Assembly in May Last 
and the Report of the Comitte thereon — to this 
Assembly in their present Sessions proposing that 
ye memorials : st be formed into a Distinct Society 
for Carrying on ye worship of God a-mongst them- 
selves according to ye Bounds &c — Limits therein 
Specified. This Assembly Do Enact Decree and 
Order That ye said Isaac Willey, Stephen Scovil, 
John Comstock and the Rest of the Inhabitants of 
the Parrish hereafter Described be and they are 



56 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

here by Imbodyed and made one Distinct Ecclesi- 
astical Society by the name of Hadlyme, and that 
ye Bounds thereof to be as follows viz Beginning at 
a Whiteoak Tree Standing by the Great River be- 
ing accounted ye bounds between Lyme and East 
Haddam thence Running Southerly to William 
Clemans In eluding Mr. Selden's farm by the River 
thence Eastward from said Clemans house unto ye 
house where Consider Tiffany now lives including 
that house thence running northwesterly to the 
South East corner of James Masses farm thence 
Running northeasterly by s'd Masses his Land to 
the Repouted bounds of East Haddam. Then be- 
ginning at s'd Whiteoak Tree by the River from 
thence Extending one mile and three quarters 
north To the River and from the Extreem of that 
Extent Easterly to James Booge's house including 
s'd house thence Easterly to Elijah Ackley's house 
including s'd House thence East unto the Line of 
Millington Parrish and from thence Southerly By 
s'd Millington Line unto the Line between s'd East 
Haddam and Lyme and by Last mentioned Line 
unto Mose his Land aforesaid. 

Teste George Wyllvs, Secretary." 
At a meeting held " May ye 28, 1745 it was then 
and their voted that wee Will Give ye Rev. Mr. 
Rawson towards building his house in s'd society 
if he Settles in the work of the ministre a-mongst 
us the sum of one hundred pound old tenor in 
Labour to be payd in the time that we way his 
settlement." 



OF EAST HADDAM. 



57 



Mr. Rawson was born at Mendon, Mass.; re- 
ceived the degree of A. B., at Harvard in 172S, 
and was settled several years at South Hadley, 
He was a plain preacher, gifted in prayer, remark- 
ably social, and had an uncommon talent in recon- 
ciling parties at variance. He died March 29, 
1777, in the 70th year of his age and the 2 2d 
of his ministry in Hadlyme. His wife was 
Dorothy Chauncey, daughter of the Rev. Isaac 
Chauncey, of Hadley. She died November 15th, 
1870, aged 70 years. They had seven children, al: 
of whom, with one exception, died before their 
parents. The Hadlyme parsonage — the large 
brown house on the hill now occupied by E. \\\ 
Mather — was built about 1746. Mr. Rawson lived 
here during his ministry. Afterwards his son.. 
Rev. E. G. Rawson, brought up a large family — in 
fact, for over one hundred years it was the home of 
the ministers. 

The Rev. Joseph Vail succeeded Mr. Rawson, 
and was installed February 9th, 1780. He re- 
tained his pastoral charge more than .fifty years. 
He was succeeded by Rev. R. S. Crompton about 
1835. Mr. Crompton was secceeded by Rev. George 
Carrington, S. A. Loper, E. B. Hilliard, D. W. Zel- 
ler. The following notice was cut from the C(?/i;i. 
Fa/. Advertiser in 1885 : 

"Rev. Stephen A. Loper, of Hadlyme, died in 
Hartford, on Friday of last week, at the ripe age of 
84 years and six months. Nearly a half century 
ago Mr. Loper was the pastor of the Congrega- 



58 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

tional church at Middle Haddam, after which he 
was for many years pastor of the Congregational 
Church in Hadlyme. For several years past he has 
lived with his daughter, Mrs. Lynde Selden, at the 
last-named place." 

The deacons in the church since its organization 
were : 

' Samuel Dutton, Christopher Holmes, 

Samuel Cooby, Col, Samuel Selden, 

Israel Spencer, Esq., Jabez Comstock, 
Israel S. Spencer, Israel Dewey, 

Ithamer Harvey, Selden Warren, 

Elijah Comstock, Samuel C. Selden, 

V. A. Tiffany, Isaac Chester, 

Joseph Selden, William C. Spencer. 

Almond Day, 

Notwithstanding the formation of this society 
was nine years after the formation of Millington, 
jriettlements were made here much earlier, or about 
the time of the settlement of the C'reek Row. 

Thomas Hungerford moved to this parish from 
New London, with his three sons, as early as 1692. 
He was soon followed by Isaac Willey and his 
three sons, also from New London. John Holmes 
THioved here from the same pUice in 17 10, and 
Thomas Harv'ey from England, and John Marsh 
from Ma.ssachusetts were also early inhabitants. 
The Hungerfords, Willeys and Holmes seem to 
:have taken firm root in the soil, as their descend- 
ants are now quite numerous here, and "■ own and 
possess " a large portion of the land. Thomas 



OF EAST HAD!) AM. 59 

Hungerford was a blacksmith, and in consideration 
of his trade the society of East Haddam gave him 
a section of land. His house stood at the corner 
of the road east of Asa Hungerford's, near the Oid 
Bone Mill. He was the first selectman of the town 
of East Haddam. He died about 17 14, and was 
buried in the Cove Burying Ground. The three 
sons who accompanied him hither were named 
Thomas, John and Green. At that time Thomas 
2d was married, and had one child. Later he was 
a sea-faring man, and when at home, lived with 
and took care of his father. On his return from his 
last voyage at sea, he was taken sick at New Lon- 
don, where he died in 1750. His descendants 
left town. John, the second son of the elder 
Thomas, married Deborah Spencer about 1701. 
He died in 1748, and was buried in Hadlyme bury- 
ing ground. He had two sons, Robert and Thomas. 
Robert built a house which stood where Drury 
Holmes now lives, in which he resided till his 
death. He married Grace Holmes about 1730. 
His children were Robert, John, Zackariah, Elijah, 
l>eborah, Anna and Silence. 

Robert 2d married in 1776. His children by his 
second wife were as follows : 

Robert 3d, born in 1777. 

Joseph E., born in 1784, 

William, born in 1786. 

Lovica, born in 1789. 

Ansel ist, born in 1792. 

A.sa, born in 1795. 



6o THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

Richard, born in 1798, 

Ansel 2d, born in . 

Rebecca, born in 1804. 

Ansel ist died about the year 1800. Richard 
was killed by a falling tree in 1815. Ansel 2d and 
Rebecca Ely are now living in Hadlyme. 

John, the brother of Robert 2d, served in the 
French and Indian wars. Captain Zackariah mar- 
ried Lydia Bigelow, and built the house where 
William E. now lives; he was grandfather of William 
E., Zachariah 3d, John B. Hungerford and Roswell 
S. Cone, our present townsmen. 

Green Hungerford, the son of the elder Thomas, 
moved to Millington about 1730, where he became 
one of the leading men of the society. 

He married Jemima Richardson, and built a 
house at 'Tator Hill, where Norris Rathburn's 
house now stands. He had a son Green, who oc- 
cupied the old homestead, which subsequently be- 
came used as a public house, and the headquarters 
of the militia for a number of years. The widow 
of Green married Matthias Fuller, the father of 
Richardson Fuller. The grandchildren of Green 
2d are Reed Anderson, Lord W. Cone's mother, 
Richard Hungerford's mother, and Mrs. Olcot 
Harris. 

Isaac Willey came from New London with Thomas 
Hungerford, and also settled in Hadlyme with his 
three sons, Isaac, John and Abel. They owned 
land from the Connecticut river, extending back 
several miles along the line of the town of Lyme. 



OF EAST HADDAM. 6l 

All the Willeys in East Haddam are descendants 
from this family, though they are not now as nu- 
merous as formerly, many of them having moved 
from the town. 

Abel settled in the southern part of Hadlyme, 
upon the old homestead. 

John's children were named Joseph, Jonathan 
and Allen. Joseph 2d married Irene Banning in 
1764. Their child, Temperance, born 1768. Jon- 
athan married Mary Bates in 1758. Their children 
were : 

Susanna, born in 1758. 

Mary, born in 1761. 

Jonathan 2d, born in 1763, 

Clement, born in 1765. 

Azubah, born in 1767. 

Elles, born in 1769. 

Hannah, born in 1771. 

Keziah, born in 1773. 

The children of Allen were Abraham, John and 
Judah. 

Captain Abraham married Susanna Beckwith in 
1773. Their children were : 

Anna, born in 1773. 

Ethan Allen, born in 1776. 

Mehitable R., born in 1780, 



62 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

Barak, born in 1782. 

Susanna, born in 1785. 

Abraham Wolcott, born in 1788. 

Ethan Allen Willey was the father of Judge 
Willey, William Willey and Mrs. Orren Warner, of 
East Haddam. Mehitable R., the sister of Ethan 
Allen, married a Chapman, and was the mother of 
Robert W. Chapman, Esq. 



OF EAST HADDAM. 65. 

CHAPTER XI. 

Leesville. 

One of the first settlers of Leesville was Capt. 
Jonathan Kilburn, whose house stood on the hilL 
near the present schoolhouse. The Captain was a 
man of considerable influence in his day. He. 
seems to have been enterprising, eccentric, and in- 
genious. The mill-house near the present Lees- 
ville dam stands over what was then called '' Sal- 
mon Hole," a deep hole from which were caught 
large numbers of salmon. The large chasm in the 
ledge, just east of this house, is a monument of 
Capt. Kilburn's perseverance, he having burned it 
out by the use of fire and water. He then built a 
trough from a spring on the hill some distance east 
of the village to the bank which towered above the 
present school-house, and by thus washing away 
this mountain of sand and sending it through the 
chasm, filled up '' Salmon Hole," and made the 
fertile garden spot around the old mill house. 
Afterwards he erected a dam across the river where 
the present dam is, and about the year 1765 built 
an oil mill, the first in the State, near where the 
present cotton mill stands. 

In his old age, Capt. Kilburn became considera- 
bly involved, his principal creditors being the Lords, 
who were, for those times, wealthy merchants, liv- 



^4 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

ing at the Landing, and to whom fickle fortune 
transferred the old man's property. George Lord 
lived where Richard Gelston now resides, Samuel 
Lord built the brick hotel which subsequently be- 
came the Champion House. George and Richard 
Lord moved to Leesville, and through their energy 
and means this splendid water privilege became 
partially developed. Over the oil mill they erected 
a woolen factory and a clothier's works, where they 
fulled and dressed their cloth. They also had a 
bark mill, and erected a saw mill, carrying eight 
saws, and sawing a length of seventy feet. The 
woolen mill had five spinning machines, and con- 
sumed about ten thousand pounds of wool annu- 
ally. The place arose to the dignity of a name, 
and was called Lord's Mills. A cotton factory was 
next erected at the same spot. 

On the night of the 30th of March, 1815, these 
mills, with a large portion of their contents, were 
consumed by fire, occasioning a loss of about twen- 
ty-five thousand dollars. The origin of the fire 
v^-as never ascertained, but from some circumstances 
which subsequently came to light, suspicions were 
directed to the crew of a British vessel which lay 
near the mouth of the river, the English being at 
that time bitterly opposed to American manufac- 
tures, then in their infancy. 

Notwithstanding this heavy loss, the Lords, the 
sunmier after, erected a fine brick building, 65x35, 
four stories high, with a loft in the garret. Into 
this they introduced machinery for the manufac- 



OF EAST HADDAM. = 

tare of woolen cloth, using sixteen thousand pound: 
of wool a year. 

In 1816, they introduced five hundred cottor 
spindles, which they afterwards increased to tw( 
thousand. They also had in this building a ma 
chine room, where all the wood, brass, and iroi 
machinery were made and repaired for the estab 
lishment. 

Fortune's wheel finally turned disastrously fo 
the Lords. Owing to severe losses they were forcec 
to mortgage their property heavily to the State o 
Connecticut, and a foreclosure was the result. Th( 
place was purchased by the sons of Dr. Samuel H 
B. Lee, of New London, who gave to it the nam< 
which it still retains. The Lees afterwards sole 
the mills to Enoch and Samuel Parsons. Sooi 
afterwards a company was formed, consisting o 
Parsons, Chapman, D. B. Warner, and S. S. Card 
After holding the property about eight years, the^ 
sold it to Ackley Cowdrey, through whose agenc; 
a joint stock company was formed. 

About twenty-two years ago, the new mill wa 
destroyed by fire, and on the ruins was erected tin 
present mill, which is owned by the East Haddan 
Duck Company, and run for the manufacture o 
cotton duck. It uses about two hundred thousanc 
pounds of cotton per year. 

The Lords went from Leesville to New Connec 
ticut, which they purchased. It appears that at om 
time Richard and George became so disastrously 
involved by their losses at Leesville that they wen 



66 THE OLD CHLMNEY STACKS 

sent to jail for debt. Three of the daughters mar- 
ried Burroughs, one of them a Member of Con- 
gress. Samuel went to Spain and brought a load 
of gold, as he called it, to this country. The ore 
upon being assayed did not prove to be the genu- 
ine article, yet the cargo was found not entirely 
worthless. It brought considerable money, but a 
fraction, however, of what its owners anticipated. 

Of the Kilburn family, Jonathan 2d went to Kil- 
lingworth. Jonathan 3d is now in Middletown; 
owns the Farmers' and Mechanics' Hotel. Aaron 
worked for some time in a silversmith's shop, run 
by one Wm. Johnson. He now resides in New 
Haven. 

The original Capt. Kilburn left another endur- 
ing monument to his memory in the shape of a 
large stone basin, capable of holding two or three 
barrels of water, which now stands as it has stood 
for years in front of the old Kilburn House. Capt. 
K. dug out this solid rock, placed it there as a res- 
ervoir, drilled a hole through the bottom, and con- 
nected it with the spring on the hill by a wooden 
pipe composed of bored logs. Into this cool res- 
ervoir for many years there bubbled up a spring of 
pure cold water, affording a convenience and a com- 
fort which our farmers of the present day seldom 
enjoy. 

The Leesville of to-day is a pleasant village of 
about fifteen families, the heads of which are wor- 
thy citizens, noted for honesty, frugality, and — 
Democracy. 



OF EAST H ADD AM. 67 

During all the Republican administrations of the 
past twenty-five years, it has had to depend on s 
democratic post-master or close the office. 

The large house in the centre of the village — alsc 
a centre of hospitality — has for many years been 
occupied by Mr. Charles Wright and his stalwart 
sons. John A. Wright kept a store here for many 
years. At present (1886), he is located at Thorn- 
dyke, Mass., and has recently been appointed post- 
master at that place. 



6S THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 



CHAPTER XII. 

Baptist, Methodist amd Episcopal 
Churches. 

The Baptist Church in East Haddam was orig- 
inally '' The Third Baptist Church in Colchester." 
The Church was organized at the house of David 
]\Iiner, November 2 2d, 1809. The first meeting 
was held at Bulkley Hill school house December 
15th, 1809 — preaching by Elder Eliada Blakesley. 
Among the familiar names of the early members 
are John and GuyBigelow, Daniel Bulkley, Anson 
Ackley, Seth Hayes and Turner Miner. The 
church prospered and increased in numbers not- 
withstanding they had no regular place of worship, 
services being held in the school house and occa- 
sionally at the house of some member for sixteen 
3-ears. The first meeting in East Haddam was held 
at the school house in the northwest district De- 
cember 2 2d, 1825. Soon after, on the 15th of De- 
cember, the first meeting was held in their new 
meeting house on the East Haddam and Colches- 
ter Turnpike, where Ransom Rathburn now lives. 
About this time the name was changed to ^' The 
Baptist Church of Colchester and East Haddam." 
The first sermon in the new meeting house was 
preached by Elder Stanwood, from the text : " One 
thing have I desired of the Lord, and that will I 



OF EAST HADDAM. 69 

seek after, that I might dwell in the house of the 
Lord." Changes in place of worship, and the erec- 
tion of new meeting houses are not generally pro- 
ductive of harmony in any denomination. It 
seems that this change was no exception to the 
general rule, for cases of discipline, for contempt 
against some of the most prominent members, be- 
came quite frequent soon after the removal. In 
fact, during the fifty years that have elapsed 
since that time this society has been particularly 
prominent in its intestine strifes. The last strife, 
but a year or two since, wherein the Beebe faction 
was arrayed against the Brooks and Stark faction 
in the civil and ecclesiastical courts. Injunctions 
and counter injunctions, more potent than the 
Pope's bulls, closing the doors of the church for 
months ; a fight which was widely known and dis- 
cussed as the " Moodus Church war," is fresh in the 
memory of every townsman. The first pastor of 
the new church was Alvin Ackley, June 19th 1827. 
June 1 8th, 1833, Amos Watrous, and on September 
3d, 1845, Thomas N. Dickinson were set apart 
as preachers of the Word. August ist, 1844, it was 
voted to sell the meeting house in Millington, and 
put the avails in a building for public worship in 
Mechanicsville (Moodus). On the 21st of Septem- 
ber following, the church was organized, under the 
name of the " Central Baptist Church in East Had- 
dam." New articles of faith were adopted, and 
since that time the place of worship has been at 
their new house in Moodus. 



yO THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

The first pastor of the church in Mood us was 
Elder Bela Hicks, whose successors have been as 
fnllows : 

Rev. A. J. Watrous, Elder Knapp, Levi Wakeman. 

June iSth, 1854 — Elder James M. Phillips. 

August 31st, 1856 — Elder A. Watrous. 

May 3d, 1858— Rev. A. V. Dimmock. 

September 6th, 1862 — Rev. Mr. Haven. 

]\larch 25th, 1866 — Rev. Thomas Attwood. 

April 30th, 1867 — Rev. Percival Matthewson. 

May 8th, 1870— Rev. C. N. Nichols. 

The present parsonage was purchased in 1868 
for two thousand dollars. 

" The M. E. Church of the Mechanicsville Sta- 
tion " was organized, and the church erected upon 
its present site about 1834. It is under the con- 
trol of the Providence Conference. The Presiding 
Elders of the district have been as follows : 

l>aniel Dorchester, 1835-37 Erastus Burton, 1860-6^ 

Asa U. Svvinerton, 1838-41 (leorge U, Carpenter, 
William Livesey. 1842 1863-64 

Ralph W. Allen, 1843-46 }'arden T. Keeney, 1865-69 

Erastus Benton, 1847-50 George W. Brewster, 18 70 

Bartholomew Otherman. H. .S. Smith, 1870-73 

1851-54 Anthony Palmer, 1873-74 

Levi Daggett. 1855-56 James H. Nutting, 1874-77 

Anthony Palmer. 1S57-58 A, W. Paige, 1877-78 

)>. W. Blood, 1859-60 A.E.Anthony, 1S78 

The following is the list of preachers : 

Freeman Nutting, 1835 Warren Emerson, 1853-54 

Amos Simpson, 1835 J.F.Sheffield, 1855 

David Todd, 1S36-37 N. Cioodrich, 1858-59 



OK EAST HADDAM. 



John F. Blanchard. 


1S37 


H. W. Conant, 


i860 




James Nichols, 


1838 


Burnham, 


i860 




Solomon Cushman, 


1S3S 


L. D. Bentley, 


1861 




Theodore W. Gile, 


1839 


C. M. Alvord, 


1862- 


-63 


Charles C. Barnes, 


1841 


¥. H. Brown, 


1864 




Moses Stoddard, 


1841 


(;. W. Wooding-, 


1S65- 


-67 


William Simmons, 


1S46 


Joel B. Bishop, 


1S68 




]'.. L. Saver. 


lS47 


William Turkinton, 


1868- 


-69 


Menry Torbu^h, 


1S49 


J. N. W^orcester, 


1870 




i '.CO. \V. Brewster, 


1S50 


II. S. Smith. 


1871 




R. .\ll)iston, 


1S51-52 









The Episcopal Society was formed April 27th, 
1791, in consequence of a division among the peo- 
ple of the First Congregational Society respecting 
the location of their present meeting house. In 
1792 the Rev. Solomon Blakeley was placed ovei 
the Society as deacon, and a year later was placec 
in full orders. He labored with this and neigh 
boring societies for more than twenty years. H( 
i^ioved to St. James Church, New London, ii 
1S15. Returned, and again became rector fron 
1818 to October 8th, 182 1. The rectors who sue 
ceeded him were as follows : 

Rev. Seth Paddock, during part of the year 1822 

Rev. William James, from October 8th, 1822 
until January 29th, 1827. 

Rev. Peter (1. Clark, two-thirds of the time fron 
November 8th, 1827, until May, 1833. 

Rev. Stephen Beach, from June 20th 1833, unti 
hits death, January 14th, 1838. 

Rev. William G. Hyes, from June, 1838, unti 
November ist, 1838. 



72 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

Rev. Charles W. Bradley, from February loth, 
1839, until August 2d, 1840. 

Rev. Albert G. Isaacs, (deacon) from August tO' 
November, 1840. 

Rev. Thomas G. Salter, from March 21st, 1841, 
until November 21st, 1842. 

Rev. Alex. Burgen (deacon), from November 
28th, 1842, until December nth, 1842. 

Rev. Henry DeKoven (deacon), was appointed 
minister October 29th, 1843, ^^^^ resigned Septem- 
ber I St, 1844. 

Rev. Alpheus Geer, from September ist, 1844,. 
until April 12th, 1852. 

Rev. George W. Nichols, from May 19th, 1852, 
until April 12th, 1853. Again, from July id. 1854^ 
until September 30th, 1855. 

Rev. B. F. Taylor, from December, 1853, to 
July, 1854. 

Rev. Gilbert B. Hayden, from September 30th, 
1855, until September 17th, 1856. 

Rev. Michael Scofield, from September to No- 
vember, 1856. 

Rev. H. B. Hitchings (deacon), from 1857, until 
November ist, 1862. 

Rev. Henry T. Gregory, from November, 1862, 
until April 13th, 1868. During liis pastorate the 
present parsonage was built. 

Rev. E. C. Gardner, from October, 1868, until 
1872. 

Rev. George Rumsey, from February 7th, 1872,, 
until October, 1884. 



OF EAST HADDAM. 73 

Rev. A. T. Parsons succeeded Mr. Rumsey, and 
is still in charge (1886). He is a graduate of 
Trinity College and Berkley Divinity School. 

Inscription on the bell of St. Stephens Church : 

" Ano de 815, 
Serudo Prion E. I. V., 
P. Du Miguel Villa 
Mueva Procunador, 

El V. Du Josef 
Estavana. A. D. 815. 

Som do, Prion E. J. V. P. Du Miguel Villa 
Mueva Procunador, Elv. Du Josef Estavano." 



TRANSLATION. 

The Prior, being the most Rev. Father 

Mio-uel Villa Mueva, The Procurator, the most 

Rev. Father Jose F. Estevan-Corvalis has 

made me. Made in the year A. D. 815. 

It hung many years in a Spanish Monastery, 
and was taken down during the wars of Napoleon 
I. It is said to be the oldest bell in the United 
States. 



74 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

CHAPTER XIII. 

Cemeteries. 

For many years after the settlement of the town 
the people carried their dead across the river to 
Haddam for burial. Not far from the year 1700, 
a party of mourners, bearing their dead, crossed 
the Cove and the narrow peninsula of Haddam 
Neck, and attempted to cross the river. It had 
overflowed its banks and the floating ice rendered 
a passage impossible. Slowly and sadly the pro- 
cession retraced its steps through the snow, and 
buried its dead in the forest in a romantic spot a 
little back from the Cove. This person was Mrs. 
Arnold, a great, great aunt of Mrs. Elijah Bing- 
ham. Thus commenced the Cove burial ground, 
and the place is now know^n as " Grave Yard 
Point." It is situated about one and a half miles 
north of the Landing, and a little west of William 
O. Brainerd's. Although the spot has twice been 
cleared of wood within ninety years, large trees 
stand beside the rude grave stones as if to offer 
their protection, and throw over the spot their sol- 
emn shade. The brown stones, covered with the 
moss of time, are adorned by the traditional angels 
having the usual round heads with wings protrud- 
ing from the ears. In a prominent part of the 
cemetery is a moss-covered tabular monument with 



OF EAST HADDAM 75 

this inscription: "Under this tombstone lyeth in- 
terred the body of the Rev. Stephen Hosmer, the 
first Pastor of the First Church of Christ in East 
Haddam, who departed this Hfe the i8th day of 
Tune, A. D., 1749, and in the 70th year of his age, 
And at his right hand lyeth Mrs. Sarah Hosmer 
his beloved consort, who departed this life Septem- 
ber ye 30th, A. D. 1749, and in the 67th year of hei 

age. 

" Sweet souls we leave you to your rest, 

Enjoy your Jesus and your God, 

Till we from bands of clay released, 

Spring out and climb the shining road." 

Near this is another slab of brown stone witl 
this inscription: " Here lieth the body of Thoma 
Gates, Justice of the Peace, April ye 20th, 1734 
in ye 70th year of his age." Also, another slal 
recording the death of Dea. Daniel Brainerd 
who died 1743." Beside this stands a handsom 
stone for those days, which has remained in a goo< 
state of preservation, and records the death 
Capt. Joshua Brainard, who departed this life Ma 
the 13th, A. D. 1755, in the 84th year of his age. 
In a line with this, stand rude brown stones whic 
mark the graves of Nehimiah, Lucy, Uri and- Har 
nah Brainard, and at the end of the line stands th 
only marble stones in the yard. They mark th 
graves of Bezaliel Brainard and Lydia his wife 
They were the grandparents of Wm. O. and Abb 
Brainard who own the ground. Here, too, is th 
resting place of the Cones, the Ackleys, Arnold 



76 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

Olmsteads and many old families of the town, A 
more pleasant or romantic spot than this can hardly 
be found. Moodus and the Landings, instead of 
each having a cemetery, should have united and pur- 
chased this spot for a common burial ground. 'J'he 
distance from either place is convenient. Nature, 
history and tradition have already made it an in- 
teresting spot; it would only have needed the em- 
bellishments of art, to make it a retreat of which 
the town might well be proud. One cannot wan- 
der through this silent city of the dead, without 
his mind reverting to the time, when its occupants 
roamed over these hills and possessed our present 
homes. Their rude boats were moored beside the 
ruder canoes of the Indians in the snug harbor 
afforded by the Cove, or glided in friendly rivalry 
over the peaceful waters of the Connecticut. But 
one generation removed from their Puritan fathers, 
they inherited their virtues and their faith, and 
were loyal subjects of their God and King. At 
last, weary with life's toils they laid down to sleep 
beneath these pleasant shades, and for nearly two 
centuries the din and confusion of progress and 
civilization have failed to disturb their silent re- 
pose. The mourner who was wont to visit this 
retreat with a secret yet melancholy pleasure comes 
now no more. The flowers and shrubs which once 
fringed these lowly graves, and which the hand of 
friendship delighted to cherish, are replaced by 
those of Nature's own bestowing, for God has not 
forgotten them. " He sends the golden beams of 



OF EAST H ADD AM, 77 

the morning to shine upon the tree-tops with re- 
freshing cheerfuhiess, and the lingering tints of 
evening to hover over them with a tranquilizing 
glow." The other grave yards in East Haddam 
were laid out or commenced as follows: 

Old Yard in Hadlyme, 1723. 

Long Pond Yard, 1726. 

MoodusYard, 1748. 

Meeting House Yard in Hadlyme, 1750. 

Bashan, 1760. 

'Tater Hill, 1760. 

Near Millington Green, 1764. 

Eight Mile River, 1769. 

Landing, 1773. 

Mt. Parnassus, 1774. 

Centre Cong. Church, 1778. 

Wicket Lane, 1793. 

There is probably no more healthy town in the 
State, the air and water being uncommonly pure. 
Some of the old accounts refer to periods when 
virulent diseases prevailed throughout the town, 
but of nothing very serious. Within a few years 
past, malaria has prevailed, to some extent, along 
the river, and in fact it has prevailed throughout 
the whole State. In the year 1775, there were over 
forty deaths in the town ; in the year following, 
more than fifty. The population of East Haddam, 
in 1800, was 2,805. '^'^"'e total number of deaths in 
the town for ten years after was 614, or an average 
of over sixty each year, being a much larger aver- 



78 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

age of mortality than has existed since that time. 
In 1870, the population was but 2,952, or 147 more 
than it was at the beginning of the century. The 
number of deaths during the year ending June ist. 
1870, was 5.4, or an average of i in 55 persons. 
Twenty of those deaths were caused by consump- 
tion, six from typhoid fever, two were accidental. 
The other deaths resulted from diseases pertaining 
to childhood and old age. Twenty-two of the 
number were under twenty-three years of age ; 
eleven over seventy ; seven over eighty, and one 
over ninety years. Thus while two-fifths failed to 
reach the average of human life, more than one- 
third passed the three-score years and ten alloted 
to man by the Creator. 



OF EAST HADDAM. 79 

CHAPTER XIV. 
AcKLEY— Palmes—Harris— Martin. 

The old road running east from the Col. Orrio 
Warner farm was formerly a main thoroughfare, 
and on it lived several of the old families. On 
the spot where Henry Martin now lives were raised 
three generations of Ackleys. Three brothers by 
the name of Ackley came over from England about 
1740 Elijah built the house where Abby Ann 
now lives solitary and alone, over one hundred and 
thirty-five years ago. It has always remained m 
the family. Alvin Ackley died there about twenty- 
five years ago, aged eighty-five. Several members 
of the family moved West. Julius Ackley died 
here recently. The farm originally extended up to 
the Wicket Lane School House. Enoch and Jere- 
miah Ackley came from Chatham. The latter ac- 
quired a comfortable home at Goodspeeds, and 
has been one of Boardman's managers for many 
years. Enoch bought the Alfred Gates place, half- 
way between the two landings, and moved there 
about 1867. He was an eccentric and withal a 
pooular character. He lived with great frugality 
and appeared to be working hard to get out of 
debt. He was a regular man-of-all-work for the 
neighborhood. If a man wanted some coal shov- 
eled in, snow paths made, or a ditch dug ; if a 



8o THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

housewife wanted her carpets shaken, or her rooms 
whitewashed, Enoch was the man to do it. When 
he could not get a job he played checkers. If he 
had invented a family coat-of-arms it would prob- 
ably have been a shovel and whitewash brush en- 
graved on a checker-board, with a rooster for the 
crest. He was without personal pride, yet he was 
proud of his four pretty daughters, and they were 
popular girls. He was genial, obliging and well 
liked — but " poor." When he died, three years 
ago, he was found to be worth about one hundred 
and twenty- five thousand dollars! 

The house now owned by Christopher Brockway 
was called the Samuel Palmes' place — Palmes died 
there at the age of ninety-five. His son Guy, the 
father of Oliver, John and Sarah, died recently at 
the residence of his daughter, in Colchester, having 
reached nearly one hundred years. The family is 
of Scotch descent, its ancestors in this country 
having first settled in New London. Samuel was 
a tanner, and when a young man, worked and 
learned his trade at a tannery on the farm known 
as "Palmes Place." The old vats still exist. He 
subsequently built a tannery and dwelling house 
on the river road just north of Shailor Cone's. 
Just below Abby Ann Ackley's is an old chimney 
where once lived Joe Warner, who was the grand- 
father of Joseph Warner of Hadlyme. Running 
east from the Ackley farm is an old road known as 
Pike's Lane. On this road lived one Thomas 
Riley, who, in his younger days, according to tra- 



OF EAST HADDAM. bl 

dition, sailed over the seas with Capt. Robert Kidd. 
Farther east, on the road leading from Mt. 
Parnassus to Hadlyme, is the old Parker home- 
stead, now owned and occupied by Ozias Parker, 
the youngest son of a large family. His brothers 
all left the town in their early days to seek their 
fortunes, and were very successful. John lives in 
Madison, Conn.; has one son. Elial lives in Deep 
River. Avery is a jeweler in Flemington, N. J.; 
he has two daughters and one son. His oldest 
daughter married Henry A. Fluck, a popular lawyer 
of Flemington. Acenath, their only sister, married 
Aaron T. Niles, and after his death married Russell 
Babcock, of North Lyme. She is now a widow. 
Ozias has several times represented the town in the 
State Legislature, and has worthily filled the most 
important town offices. His oldest son, Francis, 
graduated at Wesleyan University, and is now a 
promising lawyer in Hartford. 

Further north, on the same street, are remains of 
the homestead of the Andrews family. The owner 
of the farm moved about the year 1810 to Ohio, 
which was then considered the far West. His 
nephew become a popular and eloquent preacher 
of the Congregational faith, and about the year 
1870 was called to the charge of the first Congrega- 
tional Church in East Hampton, Conn. 



Harris. 

In an old red house on the Ripley Tracy farm 
on Mt. Parnassus, lived Samuel Harris, who moved 



82 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

there from Salem early in the present century, 
Selden Harris, of Montville, was born there in 1809. 
He afterwards moved to Salem and Westchester^ 
but returned to Millington, and bought what is now 
the town farm of William Cone, Esq., in 1828. 
After living there just twenty years, he sold the 
farm to the town, and moved to the Swan farm ad- 
joining, where he died in 1851. His wife was 
Anna Otis, of Salem. She survived him but a few 
years. Their children were: Selden, Rachel Ann, 
Lydia, Harriet, Nathaniel and Elizabeth. Selden 
married Mercy Baker, of Montville. They died 
childless. Rachel Ann married Col. Aaron T. 
Niles. They had three sons and two daughters. 
Hosford B. is the only living representative of the 
family. Harriet died at the age of twenty. I,ydia 
married James Ely Swan. They had one son and 
four daughters. James, the son, married Julia 
Doane and moved to Colorado in 187 1, where he is 
now a successful farmer. His wife is dead. He is 
the only living representative of the family. Of 
the daughters, Pernella married David Emmons; 
Harriet married Joseph H. Arnold; Catharine 
married Sherwood Cone ; Caroline married Frank 
W. Swan. All of them died in the early prime of 
life of consumption. Dr. Nathaniel, now living at 
the Landing, has long been well known as the lead- 
ing physician of the town. He married Juliet Ma- 
son, of New London. She died in 1874, leaving 
ten children. Elizabeth Harris married Ephraim 
Martin, and lives on the Dyer Emmons place in 



OF EAST HADDAM. 



Millington. They had two children: Harriet died 
young. Anna married Charles Clark and lives in 
Millington, on the William Ayres farm. 



Martin. 



Jonathan Martin, a weaver, came over from Eng- 
land and settled near Lyman Newbury. The old 
cellar is now filled up. He had nine sons — Jona- 
than, William, Ephraim, Elihu, Peter, Samuel, 
David, Joseph and 

Jonathan 2d's children were Jonathan, Elihu, 
Joseph, Esther, Mable, Oliver, Richard, Henry and 
\Vells. 

William's were Hannah, Robert, William, Justin, 
George, David, Lucy, Charles, Warren, Nancy and 
Edwin. 

Peter's were Julianna, Palmer, Maria, Janette, 
Almira, Henry, Edward, Ripley and Abby. 

David's were Emma, Cone, George, Harriet and 
Isaac. 

Joseph's were Margaret, Niles, Ephraim, Esther, 
EdgajT, Isabella and Datus. 

Samuel's were Mary, Samuel, Harlow, Henrietta, 
Adaline, Hezekiah, Ellen and Catharine. 



■84 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

CHAPTER XV. 

GOODSPEED — BOARDMAN. 

Nathan Goodspeed moved to East Haddam from 
Earnstable, Cape Cod, Mass., between 1775-80, 
bought the lot on which the Gelston House stands, 
and built a commodious two-story house thereon. 
He raised three children, viz.: Nathan, Joseph, and 
Anna. Nathan married and occupied the home- 
stead. He left one daughter, Jerusha, who married 
Oliver Allen, of Norwich, and is now living in San 
Francisco or its vicinity. They have one son, Anna 
married Samuel Gilbert, of Hebron. Died about 
i860, leaving one son, Nathan Gilbert, who resides 
in Norwich. Joseph married Laura Tyler, of Had- 
dam, about 181 2, and raised six children — George 
E., William H., Joseph F., Nathan T., Mary Anne, 
and Sophia. The only survivor of this family is 
William H., who is still an active business man of 
about sixty-three years, occupying the residence of 
his late father, who died at the age of sixty. His 
mother died at the age of forty-two, his brother 
George at fifty, his sister Mary Anne at forty, 
Sophia at twenty-four, Joseph and Nathan both at 
twenty-six. 

Joseph Goodspeed was a clerk for the Rev. Solo- 
mon Blakeley, in a store in front of the lot now 
occupied by the Gelston House. After his marriage 



OF EAST HADDAM. 85 

he carried on a store for several years in Haddam, 
hiring for that purpose a room in Timothy Shailor's 
house. He finally built a good-sized building which 
he used for a dwelling and store. Soon after this, 
Mr. Blakeley, wishing to give up his interest in mer- 
cantile business and being desirous of bringing his late 
favorite clerk back to East Haddam, persuaded 
him to buy out his stock of goods and lease 
the store. Mr. G. at once accepted the propo- 
sition of his friend, and moved back into the old 
store about 1814. He soon did a very thrifty busi- 
ness, and became a formidable rival of the staid old 
merchants of the Upper Landing. One of them so 
chafed over the growing popularity of the new store 
that he called upon its proprietor and notified him, 
through his position of first Selectman, that the store 
was on the highway and must be moved. Mr. G. 
replied that he knew one corner extended on the 
old highway about two feet, but was still five or six 
feet from any part of the road that was used — that 
the building had stood there over fifty years with- 
out complaint from any one, and that he would not 
attempt to move the building, but would move out 
of it as soon as he could make other arrangements. 
He was then ordered to move the building within 
twenty days, or the town would move it for him. 
When his good neighbor left, Mr. G. saddled his 
horse, and in two hours had contracted with Darius 
Dickinson aud the Messrs Bailey in Haddam for the 
erection of the store recently moved from the site 
now occupied by the new store, and in just forty- 



86 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

two days it was opened with the largest stock of new 
goods which had ever been introduced into the town. 

Thus commenced a feud between the two villages 
which was kept up to a certain extent for many 
years. Indeed, even now there is an absence of 
that loving kindness, neighborly generosity, and 
mutual affection which Christian teachers enjoin and 
of which poets sing. 

Mr. Goodspeed was a hard-working merchant, up 
early and late, and managed to draw not only from 
the best trade in town, but also sold goods to people 
of the adjoining towns. In fact, the new store of 
1816 attracted as much attention as the magnificent 
new one of 1876, or sixty years later. George E. 
Goodspeed died in 1863. His widow, whose maiden 
name was Nancy G. Hayden, still resides at Good- 
speed's Landing. Their son, Joseph H. is in a good 
position in Boston. Georgiana lives with her mother, 
and George E. is at school in New Haven. William 
H. Goodspeed married, in Baltimore, Miss Louise 
M. Robbins, formerly of Rocky Hill. She died 
young, leaving two children, William R., the present 
proprietor of the new store, and Louise R., who re- 
sides with her father in the family house, built by 
her grandfather Goodspeed in 1838. This house 
stands upon the site of the old Col. Chapman house, 
that the Chapman family occupied for many years, 
and afterwards by Rev. Mr. Blakeley, the son-in-law 
of Col. Chapman. It was occupied next and last 
by Jos. Goodspeed, who, after living in it twenty 
years, moved it across the street and attached it to 



OF EAST HADDAM. 87 

the then called Belden's Hotel. Subsequently, when 
the Gelston House was built, the old Chapman 
House was sold to (Udeon Higgens, who took it 
■down, and out of a part of it built the house where 
he resided at the time of his death in 1878. After 
Col. Chapman's death, the most of the large farm 
he owned came into the hands of his sons-in-law, 
Rev. Stephen Blakeley and Capt. Oliver Attwood. 
In 1 83 1, Mr. Jos. Cloodspeed bought that part of 
the farm owned by Mr. Blakeley, and since their 
father's death, George and William have bought of 
the heirs of Oliver Attwood nearly all the farming- 
land left by him, and to-day the old Chapman farm 
•of 200 acres is in better condition than ever before. 
The owner, Wm. H., seems to enjoy farming, though 
one would naturally think he had enough to do with- 
out it. He claims that he likes to employ all the 
men he can keep at work, and was never happier than 
when he had 138 men at work on the following ves- 
sels in his yard in 1863: The steamers "Charles 
Binton," "El Cid," "Sunshine," "Silver Star," 
^' Sentinel," " Gen. Lyon," and schooners " Meteor " 
and " Early Bird." This work^ with the building of 
the engines, etc., employing about 250 men in New 
London, Mystic, and New York, kept him so busy 
for a year or more that his average time for sleep 
was only four or five hours out of the twenty-four^ 
Even now he remains in his office till 9 p. m., reads 
one or two hours, and is invariably in his office be- 
fore five o'clock in the morning. He is also Vice- 
President and General Manager of the H. & N. Y. 



88 THE OLD CHniNEY STACKS 

S. Boat Co., a corporation with a capital of ^400,000, 
owning five steamers and a large property in real es- 
tate. Mr. Good speed has two children, Wm. R. and 
Louisa. Wm. R. has built one of the finest stores 
in the county, at Goodspeed's Landing, and carries 
on an extensive business in general merchandise. 

Note : — The main points of the above sketch were fur- 
nished the writer by Wm. H. Goodspeed in 1875. He died 
Jan. ist, 1S82. His daughter Louisa died Oct. 21st, 1880. 



BOARDMAN. 

Thomas Curtis Boardman, born at Wethersfield,, 
Conn., March 29th, 1798, came to Millington in 1815, 
as clerk for Noah Bulkley, in a store standing on the 
north side of the Green. He and Aaron T. Niles 
ran the same store for a while in partnership. 

He moved to East Haddam Landing in 1836, and 
lived in the old "Tinker House," was elected cashier 
of the East Haddam Bank, the same year, and held the 
position till his sudden death September i8th, 1865. 
He was on the steamboat dock at East Haddam,. 
when the Hartford steamer landed. The wooden 
cleat through which the cable ran, split as the boat 
strained upon it in the high wind, and the piece 
struck him on the head and breast. He fell dead at 
the feet of the writer. 

Mr. Boardman married Sophronia, daughter of 
Hon. Wm. Palmer, by whom he had five children,, 
four of them born in Millington. 

Julia S., now living unmarried. 

William B., married Georgiana R. S. Turner, of 
Boston. Have one daughter, Georgiana Chickering,. 



OF EAST HADDAM. 89 

named after the founder of the celebrated piano 
firm. They live in New York City. 

Dorothea Amelia, died in 1842. 

Francis married Mary Douglas. Children: Ad- 
die Minnie ; Jeanie Douglas ; Charles William. 

Isabella Palmer ; drowned in Connecticut River 
in 1866. 

Ellen Douglas. 

Clarissa S. died in infancy. 

Addie married Luther B. Williams of Rocky Hill. 
They have four children: Charles W. married Car- 
rie Welch, of New Haven ; Jeanie married Wilbur 
S. Comstock. 

Dorothea Amelia, 2d ycungest daughter of Thos. 
Boardman, married Wilson C. Reynolds, of Lyme. 
He was post-master at East Haddam for 19 years. 
They have a fine residence at East Haddam, be- 
tween the two Landings. Have three children : 
Gertrude Palmer ; Elsie Boardman ; Harry Wilson. 
Mrs. T. C. Boardman died in 1866. 



90 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 



CHAPTER XVI. 



Green Family. 



James Green was born at Barnstable, Mass., Sep- 
tember 17th, 1728. His father was William Green, 
of the same place, who died January 28th, 1756, 
aged over 70. His mother was Desire, daughter of 
John Bacon, Esq., also of Barnstable. His parents 
were married March 25th, 1709, and had seven 
children. Warren, the eldest, afterward removed 
to Middletown, Conn. The second, fourth and 
fifth were Desire, Sarah and Mary. The third 
child, William, also removed to Middletown. 
John, the sixth child, removed from Barnstable, 
but the records do not say whither. Some author- 
ities say that James, the subject of this sketch, was 
engaged in the old French war ; if so, he was quite 
young, for he was but seventeen years old at the 
time of the expedition against Louisburg. James 
Green removed to East Haddam, where he married, 
February 13th, 1754, Ruth, daughter of John and 
Elizabeth (Winslow) Marshall. Mrs. James Green 
was born at Freetown, Mass., April ist, 1737, and 
lived in a house on the river bank, just north of 
one now occupied by Mr. Matthew Hubbard. I 
find among the East Haddam law records the fol- 



OF EAST HADDAM. 9I 

lowing, which shows a determination to settle and 
identify himself with the place as a landed pro- 
prietor : 

1758, Aug. 4. Deed of land. Noah Smith, Jr., 
of Norwich, to James Green, of East Haddam. 
Book vi. 

1759, ^ov. 29. ;^^ of Geo. II. Deed of land of 
Nathaniel Tyler, to James Green- 

1765, Apr. 24, Richard Alsop to James Green. 
Consideration ^60. 

1765, Oct. so. Jabez Chapman to James Green. 
Consideration ,-£60. Deed of property southwest 
of Green's lot. 

1770, Jan. 20. Siivanus Tinker to James Green. 
Consideration ^60. Deed of land, wharf, and half 
the store house house erected thereon. 

1773 (13 Geo. III.). Ely Warner of Hartford to 
James Green. ^30. 

1774 (14 Geo. III.). Richard Christopher to 
James Green. 

1777, May 32. Humphrey Lyon to James 
Green, 

1778, Nov. 10. Jehial and Rhoda Sexton, of 
Waterbury, to Mr. J. Green. 

1779, Mar. 16. Seth Willey to James Green. 
j^yS los. Deed of land in Hadlyme. 

1783, Oct. 4. Josiah Griswold, Middletown, to 
Capt. James Green. 

1784, Nov. 15. Caleb Gates to Capt. James 
Green. 



92 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

1786, May 4. Zachariah Chapman to Capt, 
James Green. 

Thirteen purchases of realty in that day and 
place, and all within twenty-eight years, is unusual, 
and there was bnt one sale, which was to Epaphro- 
ditus Champion, for ^^20, 6s. 8d., September 4th, 
1786. He was not thirty years old when he pur- 
chnsed his first real estate in East Haddam, and he 
died possessed of all except the piece sold to Gen. 
Champion. There is no record of the regiment to 
which he was attached, except that it was a cavalry, 
and he was with it as captain in some engagements 
during the war, probably in the year 1776. 

In a former chapter is described the different 
residences of his sons and daughters at East Had- 
dam Landing. Capt, Green was a leading citizen 
of the town. There were annual elections then, 
and we find Capt. James Green was chosen 
" Brander of Horses" December 5th, 1766, and 
every year to 1773. Every year from this until 
1789 he held important offices in the town. Allu- 
sion has been made, in a former chapter, to a forge 
near the spot where the Old Bank now stands. It 
was there he made guns during the war, which 
echoed the notes of the Declaration of Indepen- 
dence on many a battle field to the satisfaction of 
his present rebel associates, if not of his late royal 
master, and East Haddam was all rebel. As early 
as June 30th, 1774 it voted unanimous for a De- 
claration, and June 6th, 1778, adopted unanimously 



OF EAST HADDAM. 93 

the Articles of Confederation. Tiiey were prompt, 
generous and patriotic in furnishing arms, money 
and men. 

Mrs, Ruth Green was baptised and they both 
entered the communion March 7th, 1773, at the 
meeting house of the First Society. Capt. Green 
died March nth, 1809, and his widow November 
27th, 1816. They were both buried in the Land- 
ing Cemetery. The old stones, which were falling 
to decay, were replaced with a marble slab by the 
sons of Capt. Green, with inscriptions as follows : 

SACRED 
TO THE MEMORY OF 

CAPTAIN JAMES GREEN, 

WHO DIED MARCH II, 180O 
JE 80. 

ALSO OF 

MRS. RUTH, 

WIFE OF CAPTAIN JAMES GREEN, 
WHO DIED NOV. 27, 1S16 
JE. 79 

They had eleven children, all born at East Had- 
dam, to wit ; 

Hannah Green, born March 14th, 1755. 

Ruth, born May 2d, 1756 ; died January 21st, 
1791. 

James, born April 8th, 1758. 

William Aug., born August 26th, 1760. 



94 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

Benjamin, born August 31st, 1762. 
Richard, born March loth, 1765. 
Ann (Nancy), born P'ebruary 13th, 1768. 
Timothy, born August 13th, 177 1 ; died March 
March 19th, 1775. 

OHver, born August i6th, 1773. 
Timothy 2d, born July 3, 1776. 
Wilson, born July loth, 1780. 



OF EAST HADDAM. 95 



CHAPTER XVII. 

Gideon Higgins. 

Gideon Higgins, for over sixty-eight years a highly 
respected resident of East Haddam, died in that town 
on the first day of August, 1878, in the ninety-sixth 
year of his age. His prominency in all the civil 
affairs of the town, during so lengthy a period of 
time, entitles him to more than a passing notice 
in these pages. He was born in the town of Had- 
dam, Conn., in that portion known as " Turkey 
Hill," on the 8th day of September, 1782. His 
parents, Hawes and Lucinda (Bushnell) Higgins, 
were of good repute in the community in which they 
lived. He was, from early youth, deeply impressed 
with the advantages of a good education, and, al- 
though in his boyhood, he saw but few opportunities 
to gratify his desire for information, yet those few he 
zealously improved. About three months at school 
each year was spared to him from his labor at farm- 
ing, and at his father's trade of house and ship- 
building, until he arrived at the age of eighteen years, 
when he, for a brief time, attended school in Chester, 
under the instruction of the Rev. Mr. Mills. He lived 
in the town of his nativity until the age of twenty- 
two, when he went to the city of New York. This 



96 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

was about the year 1804, when that city numbered 
only 75,000 inhabitants. He remained there about 
two years engaged in ship building. At the expira- 
tion of that time he returned to Haddam, and in 
1808 was made an Elector of the State of Connec- 
ticut in that town. He was married June 3d, 1809, to 
Ann Wright, daughter of William Wright, of Chat- 
ham, Conn., with whom he lived in the happiest rela- 
tions until the time of her death, August 2d, 1852. 
They had five children, William W., Lucinda A., wife 
of Nathan Tyler, Catharine, Eliza M., wife of James 
M. Welch, and Mary S. Of these only one is now 
living — Catharine — who still lives in the old home- 
stead at East Haddam. Mr. Higgins removed with 
his wife to East Haddam, November loth, 1810, and 
commenced housekeeping in the house where the late 
Richard S. Pratt resided at the time of his decease. 
He became, during his residence in his native town, 
a member of the State Militia, and finally, in 1810, was 
chosen Captain of the Haddam Town Company, which 
position he held for the three succeeding years. When, 
during the war of 181 2, the British troops made an 
attack upon and burnt our vessels at Essex, he, with 
nirje others from this town volunteered, armed them- 
selves, and took a row-boat for the scene of destruc- 
tion, and, for a short time, took part in the attack 
upon the invaders, but soon after their arrival 
darkness ensued and enabled the Englishmen to 
make their escape with two men killed — one of 
whom was a lieutenant in rank. 



OF EAST HADDAM. 97 

In 1813, he removed his family to "Chapman's 
Landing," or '^ the Ferry," by both of which names 
it was then called — now universally known as 
" Goodspeed's Landing" — into the house then 
called the " Dr. Percival House." It stood on the 
site of the house where Whitby M. Smith now lives. 
Here he pursued his trade of "master ship builder" 
for many years, having a large force of men in his 
employ. In the year 1815 he purchased the land 
on which he erected the house which was his place 
of residence up to the time of his death. It was an 
unpromising piece of ground, but persevering in- 
dustry made it a comfortable and pleasant home for 
over sixty-three years. 

He, at various times filled responsible positions of 
public trust. He was a Deputy Sheriff of Middle- 
sex County from October 3d, 1818, to June ist, 
1823. By the General Assembly of the State, in 
whom was vested the appointing power at the time, 
he was made the Sheriff of the county in 1827, which 
office he occupied for three years. In the years 
1826 and 1827 he was elected to the lower House 
of the General Assembly, and subsequently also 
represented East Haddam during three other ses- 
sions of that body. From 1838 to 1842 he was a 
Commissioner of the County Court, and in 1834, one 
of the Judges of that Court. He was Judge of 
Probate for the District of East Haddam during 
the years 1844 and 1845. 

Numerous minor offices of responsibility and 



98 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

public trust in the gift of his fellow townsmen did 
Judge Higgins fill during his useful existence, cover- 
ing nearly a century. It is sufficient to say that he 
performed the duties connected with them all cred- 
itably to himself and to the entire satisfaction of the 
public. He was sought for important private trusts 
and discharged them with perfect fidelity. His ad- 
vice upon business matters and on law questions was 
considered valuable and his judgment was univer- 
sally approved. 

Politically, he was with the Whig party, and was a 
member of the Republican party from its organization. 

He was always persistent and positive m the sup- 
port of his political convictions, and never, except 
on very isolated occasions, when he was unavoidably 
prevented, did he omit to express his political faith at 
the ballot box in Electors' and Town Meeting. In 
fact his devotion to this duty of every citizen was 
very noteworthy. Being a radical anti-slavery man, 
he took great satisfaction in all proper measures 
looking to the emancipation of the slave, and was 
ever prepared to extend such assistance as lay in his 
power in the prosecution of that object. He was a 
man of courage — moral, intellectual and physical — 
and uncompromising in his convictions of duty. 
He never waited to learn the opinions of others in 
order to modify the expression of his own and shape 
them to some private advantage, but spoke as he 
thought, with a high sense of right, which always 
guided his sensibilities. 



« OF EAST HADDAM. 99 

He was a practical temperance man, in every 
respect, at no time indulging in any of the physical 
excesses which impair or destroy health. With an ac- 
tive, energetic temperament, he possessed remarkable 
powers of physical strength and endurance. His 
arrival at the ripe old age of ninety-six years, in 
the possession of his mental faculties, and with an 
extraordinary amount of physical vigor for that age,, 
was evidence of a healthy constitution, wisely pre- 
served. At the age of ninety-five he shot a mis- 
chievous squirrel upon the top of one of his pear 
trees, and one week previous to his death, which 
resulted from an attack of dysentery, he was cutting 
the grass in his orchard w^ith the briskness of a 
much younger man. 

His private character was without a stain. His 
integrity was unquestioned. To his excellence as a 
citizen he added a true Christian character, which 
he manifested in profession and practice. 

Although favoring the Second Adventist doctrine^ 
he was free from the taint of sectarian bigotry, and 
cordially welcomed all manifestations of a Christian 
life. 

His old Bible, so long and faithfully used, bears 
upon each page evidences of how diligently it was 
perused, and how well it was loved, and with its 
teachings in his heart, he closed his earthly career 
with great hope and assurance of eternal life. 



lOO THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 



CHAPTER XVIII. 
Brainard — Gates — Gelston. . 

Among the early settlers from Haddam was 
Daniel Brainard, Jr., who settled at the lower end 
■of the Creek Row, near the spring just below the 
Royal Ayres place. His father, Daniel, came from 
England when eight years of age, and was the an- 
cestor of the Brainards in this country. He settled 
in Haddam in 1662, and was a prosperous and in- 
fluential man, a justice of the peace in the town, 
and a deacon in the church. The family is very 
numerous in this part of the country, and has 
always ranked among the highest in wealth and 
influence. Two doctors, Daniel and Hezekiah, were 
eminent physicians ; Thomas, Israel, Timothy G., 
Elijah and Nehemiah were popular ministers of the 
gospel ; Hon. Jeremiah and Hon. Hezekiah gained 
much distinction as legislators and judges ; while 
David and Rev. John earned world-wide renown as 
missionaries among the Indians. The two latter were 
children of the Hon. Hezekiah. Their older sister 
married Gen. Joseph Spencer, of Millington, in 
whose family David, the eminent missionary, lived 
for four years. David's labors were for a long time 
with the Lenni-Lenape and other tribes along the 



OF EAST HADDAM. lOI 

Delaware River. The finest church in Easton, Pa.^ 
is Brainard Church, a fitting monument to his name 
and fame. 

Daniel Brainard, the original settler, had eight 
children, as follows : Daniel, Jr., Hannah, James, 
Joshua, William, Caleb, Elijah and Hezekiah. All 
the Brainards in this country are said to be descen- 
dents of these children. Of our townsmen, Wil- 
liam O. and Abby Brainard, Mrs. Silas Nichols, 
Judah and Benjamin Lewis, Milton, John, and 
Frank Brainard, and many of the Days in W^est- 
chester, are descendents of Daniel, Jr. The Gates' 
descended from Hannah. Joshua Brainard's resi- 
dence is marked by the oM cellar mound just south 
of Selden Brainard's, and from this branch de- 
scended Col. Orren Warner, Brainard Emmons, 
Miss Lucretia Brainard and Mrs. Blakeman. Joshua 
was commander of the first military company 
formed in East Haddam. Erastus and Silas, the 
Portland quarry owners, are descendants of James. 
Selden T. Brainard, David B. and George Sexton, 
of East Haddam. Fisk and Henry Brainard, of 
Haddam Neck, and Cornelius Brainard, of Higga- 
num, are descendants of William. Caleb was the 
ancestor of David Brainard, of East Haddam. 
Mrs. Francis Palmer is a descendant of Elijah. 
John G. C. Brainard, a brilliant writer, Editor 
of the Hartford Mirror and author of a book of 
poems, from which the poem " Matchit Moodus," 
in Chapter V. was copied, was also a native of 



I02 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

this town. The estate of Daniel Lord, deceased, 
is a part of the farm formerly owned by George 
Gates, and later by Phineas. The old house stands 
a little north of the present dwelling. The house 
owned by Aristarchus and Seth Daniels, was built 
by Joseph Gates in 1774: its peaked roof still at- 
tracts attention, and in its youth, it must have been 
considered quite a stately edifice. It was first de- 
signed for a court house, and afterwards made over 
into a tavern. It was purchased in 1804 by the 
Daniels, who came from Haddam Neck. Joseph 
Gates, its builder, was the son of Joseph Gates, 
born in 1722. In regular descent by this line come 
Orren and Epaphroditus, also Uri, the brother of 
Orren. The latter Joseph was also the father of 
Bazaleel Gates, who was the father of Brainard, 
Hannah, and Beriah. All of the above, of the last 
generation, have died within the last ten years. 
The homestead of the elder Joseph stood a little 
north of the large house where Uri lived and died, 
and which was built by his father. The house pur- 
chased of Brainard and Hannah by George I. Kipp, 
was built by Bazaleel in 1800. The old road on 
which it stands, now closed for many years, was 
once a main thoroughfare from Moodus to Bashan. 



Deacon Maltby Gelston, a farmer in Bridgehamp- 
ton, L. I., during the Revolution, fled with his 
family as refugees from British rule to East Had- 
dam. He occupied a house standing on the bank 



OF EAST HADDAM. I03 

of the Connecticut River, near tlie one recently 
built by David Watrous. A part of the old founda- 
tion can still be traced. After the war closed he 
returned to his farm on Long Island. William 
Gelston, his seventh child, on his return from the 
war in the year 1781, married Asenath Sayres, 
daugher of Matthew Sayres, who was then one of 
the largest land owners in the town of East 
Haddam. He erected the large house near the 
Episcopal Church, in the year 1760. William 
Gelston, soon after his marriage, purchased the 
property on which the Gelston House now stands, 
where he lived until 1826. A part of the old man- 
sion is now attached to the present house. 

Through purchase, and inheritance by his wife, 
he became possessed of a large tract of land, and 
for convenience he concluded to move. He bought 
of wSamuel Crowel, the house now occupied by the 
Gelston family. Soon after moving here in 1826 
he sold his place at the Ferry to Joseph Goodspeed. 

More than twenty years ago the Gelston House 
Company was formed, the largest stockholders of 
the Company being Hugh Gelston, of Baltimore, 
and George S. Gelston, of Fort Hamilton, two sons 
of William Gelston. The present hotel was built 
and named the Gelston House. Mr. Gelston reared 
a family of seven sons and three daughters. He 
was sheriff for twenty years and filled many town 
offices. He died at the age of eighty-five. His son 
AVilliam followed him as the possessor of the landed 



I04 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

estate, and died in 1875, at the age of eighty- 
nine years. He left four children, Maltby, John, 
Mrs. West, of NewLondon, and Lucy. 



OF EASl' HADDAM. I05 



CHAPTER XIX. 

Cone. 

Daniel Cone, bom in 1626, came over from Edin- 
boro, Scotland, and settled in Haddam with his four 
sons, in 1670. He left one son in Scotland. The 
family moved to East Haddam a few years after- 
wards, built a log hut, and settled on the farm re- 
cently purchased of Jonathan Cone, by Benjamin 
Edwards. Until this transfer, it has remained in the 
Cone family. Daniel died in 1706, and was buried 
m Haddam. His sons were Daniel, Jared, Stephen 
and Caleb. One of them retained the homestead ; 
one settled on the spot where Zachary Cone now 
lives ; one near Palmer Place, now owned by Mrs. 
Doane ; the other near Elijah Warner's. The home- 
stead finally came into the possession of Capt. 
Stephen, who, in turn, bequeathed it by will to 
Stephen, John and Reuben. Capt. Stephen was 
buried in the Methodist cemetery, in 1752. He oc- 
cupied a house standing a few rods east of the one 
above referred to. It was demolished a few years 
aa-o. He erected a new dwelling on a spot about ten 
rods north or the present house, the foundations of 
which are now completely obliterated. The house 
was two stories in front and one in rear. The set- 



I06 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

tiers in those early days used to assemble at times 
and surround the wolves, starting as far as Middle 
Haddam, and driving them down on the Neck, where 
they became good targets for the hunters. 

Stephen used to interest his grandchildren by re- 
lating how the family often sat on the back door-step 
and listened to the howling of the wolves as they 
were driven through the forest. At that time the 
highway used to run from Fuller's Landing, near 
Scofield's, in an easterly direction, and struck the 
Moodus road, near Oliver Emmons'. The house 
where Edwards now lives stands directly in this old 
highway. The property next descended to Stephen 
and Thomas Cone. Thomas occupied the land where 
Chloe Cone now lives. She was a direct descendant, 
her father being Joshua,who was the son of Joel, who 
was the grandson of Thomas. Stephen third retained 
the old place, which from him descended to Elisha, 
thence to Elisha second, thence to Stephen, thence to 
Jonathan. The Thomas branch is now represented 
by Chloe, and her nephew Theodore. Theodore 
served in the rebellion as Colonel in the Confederate 
army, and is now practicing law in Georgia. The 
daughters of Stephen and Thomas intermarried with 
the Gates, Fullers, Chapmans and Williams, thus 
creating a relationship which extends to nearly all 
the old families in town. 

Zachary, Robert S., Wm. E., George, and the late 
Helen Cone, of Millington, are direct descendants 
of Jared by different branches. Zachary married 



OF EAST HADDAM. I07 

Elizabeth, daughter of the late Rev. Isaac Parsons, 
and retains the old place. A. Jared, Jr., moved to 
Millington, married a daughter of the early Matthew 
Smith ( see Smith family ) and settled on the Bala- 
hack road, which runs west from Edwin Emmons. 
The old chimney stack still stands. Then, the road 
now running by Ephraim Martin's did not exist. 
The old road was several rods west of the present 
one, but terminated near the same point. 

Jared died in 1742, Nehemiah, his son, lived at the 
Christopher Marsh place, and died in 1819. His 
children were Mary, Newel, Statira, Sarah, Jared, 
Lucy and Betsey. 

George, the father of Helen R. and George, Jr. 
lived here. Helen R., left Millington in 1838, and 
has been in the wholesale fruit business, near Ful- 
ton Ferry, New York, for about forty years. George, 
Jr., died in Georgia. 

Deacon William E. Cone, is a son of Newel. He 
has always resided in East Haddam, has often repre- 
sented the town in the State Senate and House of 
Representatives, has filled the most important town 
offices, and always performed his duties with great 
fidelity. His only son, William A., has recently 
built a new residence at Goodspeed's Landing, where 
he is engaged in the insurance business, representing 
some of the best companies in the country. William 
R. Cone, president of the ^tna Bank, Deacon 
James E. Cone, and the late Sylvanus F. Cone, of 
Hartford, were from East Haddam. 



Io8 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

The following" notices were cut from the Connecti- 
cut Valley Advertiser^ in 1886. 

OBITUARY. 



Syi.vanus F. Cone. 

Mr. Sylvanus Y . Cone, brother of Deacon James E. Cone 
and William R. Cone, president of the .(^tna Bank, died yes- 
terday morning at 7 o'clock, of typhoid and malarial fever, at 
his residence on Warrenton street, Hartford. Mr. Cone was 
born in East Haddam, in August, 1814, and moved to this city 
in 1835, since which time he has resided here continually. He 
always took a warm interest in public affairs, rarely, or never 
failing to exercise his rights as a citizen. He was for many 
years a member of the board of selectmen as well as an asses- 
sor, and filled other important trusts, ahva)'S performed his 
duties with scrupulous fidelity. He was possessed of a most 
genial and kindly disposition, retaining his youthful feelings 
and appearance to a wonderful degree, and was esteemed and 
beloved by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. He 
leaves a wife and four sons, Joseph H., William E., and John 
B. Cone of this city, and Augustus F. Cone, who resides in 
Cincinnati, and one daughter. Miss Ella B. Cone. 



DEATH OF WILLIAM E. CONE. 

Deacon William E. Cone, one of the aged residents of our 
village, and in days gone by, one of the prominent men of the 
town, died on Saturday evening last. He was born in Milling- 
ton eighty years ago last September, and nearly all of his four 
score vears had been passed in his native town. For many 
vears he was the general manager for W. \\. Nichols & Co., 
twine manufacturers of this village, and his business ability 
was recognized and his counsel sought by many. He repre- 
sented the town of East Haddam in the Legislature of 1862 ; 
was re-elected in '63, and was a member of the Senate from 



OF EAST HADDAM. I09 

this senatoral district ( then the nineteenth) in 1865 and '66. 
He had also at various times held minor positions of trust 
within the gift of his townsmen. His poHtical opponents were 
not poHtical enemies, for his candor, under all circumstances, 
won the respect of those who, perhaps, were at variance with 
him. He was a faithful and willing worker in the cause of 
temperance, and though not over demnostrative, his broad in- 
fluence was ever for the right. He early in life united with 
the church, and for thirtj'-seven years he had been one of the 
deacons of the First Congregational Church of this town. He 
was a man careful in his judgment ; a true Christian, and his 
death was the closing of a well-spent life. The funeral ser- 
vice was held Thursday afternoon, at the Methodist Church, 
and was conducted by Rev. S. McCall, assisted by Revs. S. 
W. Robbins, of Manchester, G. \V, Wright and J. B. Cou- 
ncil. The large number present on the occasion, notwith- 
standing the severe rain storm prevailing at the time, bore evi- 
dence of the great respect in which the deceased was held in this 
community. It is a fact worthy of mention, that during the 
long life of Deacon Cone, probably no man in town had kindly 
officiated as funeral director on so many occasions. 

Of the early settlers, near Elijah Warner's, Isaac 
Cone was a direct descendant and owned the farm 
extending from Bald Hill to Miner Gillett's, and 
lived where G. R. Tracy now lives. The mother of 
Timothy Holmes and Mrs. Hubbard Ayres are also 
direct descendants of this branch. The family name 
of this branch in East Haddam seems to have be- 
come extinct with the death of Robert D. Cone, for 
many years a school teacher. He was a bachelor 
and lived for several years with Jonathan Clark. 

The old gambrel-roofed house, standing on the old 
road, running west from Daniel Peck's, was Erastus 



no THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

Cone's. He was the uncle of Lord Wellington, 
Erastus' father was Israel, who was the son of 
Israel. The father of William H. and Charles, was 
Samuel Cone, who lived where Wm. C. Gates now 
lives. Just east of Gates, is an old chimney, which 
marks the house where lived Samuel's father, Dea- 
con Nathaniel. One of his sons went to East 
Hampton, and from him the present Cones in 
Chatham descended. Nathaniel was elected deacon 
of Millington church, about one year before his 
death, which occurred April 15, 1790. He had 
eight sons in the Revolutionary war. Helon Cone 
settled in Foxtown, among whose rocks he delved 
out quite a fortune. He left by will ten thousand 
dollars in trust, to be loaned at lov/ rates of inter- 
est to deserving young men of the town, the prin- 
cipal and accumulated interest to be so used for- 
ever. Time would render the possibilities of such 
a fund beyond computation, and he was advised 
that such a provision would hardly stand the test of 
law. He revised it and demised that when the 
sum shall reach seventy-five thousand dollars it 
shall be applied to the building of a free academy 
in Millington Society. He died in 1S78. His 
nephew, William H., son of Samuel, died three 
years before. He was the largest land owner in 
the town, and for many years exerted a great influ- 
ence in town affairs. He left one son, ^VTllian Ly- 
man, now living on INIillington Green. Thus it 
may be seen that Israel and Samuel formed differ- 



OF EAST HADDAM, III 

ent branches of the orighial family, but all of the 
name of Cone in the United States, forming nu- 
merous and wide-spreading branches, may trace 
their origin to that same old trunk, which is repre- 
sented by our Daniel Cone, who settled in Haddam, 
in 1670. 



112 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 



CHAPTER XX. 
Hall and Smith. 

The old house where Jedediah Hall died, a few 
years since, has remained in the Hall family since 
the early settlement, until its recent sale. Here 
Dyer's father, Samuel Hall, carried on his trade of 
scythe-making in a shop near Oliver Clark's. He 
was a man of considerable influence. His wife w^as 
a spry little woman, with complexion quite dark. In 
her day slavery was not extinct even in Connecticut, 
and it is related of her that a stranger, who came to 
see Mr. Hall, mistook her position and accosted her 
with the question: ''Where is your master?" ''I 
wish you to understand, sir," she replied, "that I 
have no master but God." Thomas Hall lived a 
short distance east of the Dyer Hall house, at the 
corner of the Town Hill road, near Bashan Pond. 
The old chimney stack still remains. The old road 
leading from Oliver Palmes' to the Halsey Brown 
place is an ancient land-mark. Here, at the north 
end of the road, lived many of the Spencers, and 
near the south end lived several families of Smiths^ 
the ancestor of them all being Matthew, who 
came from Lyme to East Haddam on the 6th day 
of November, A. D. 1706, at the age of 22. He 



OF EAST HADDAM. II3 

located on the spot where Alden now Hves. Soon 
after coming here he married Sarah Mack, and built 
a house a short distance east of the present house. 
There he, and afterwards his son Matthew, Hved till 
the year 1778, when the present house was built by 
Matthew Smith second. 

From him it was bequeathed by will to Jeremiah^ 
his third son. From him Jeremiah, Jr., purchased 
it in 1802, and from thence it came to the present 
heirs, being the fifth generation in direct descent, 
and making one hundred and seventy years that the 
place has remained in the family. The present 
house stands to-day as it was built over a hundred 
years ago. A tall and stately mansion, it overlooks. 
all the dwellings of the plain. Then, in the scarcely 
broken wilderness, it must have been regarded as 
some lordly manor, the center of the rude civiliza- 
tion of the place and times, as it was the birth- 
place of a numerous and influential family. Mat- 
thew Smith and Sarah Mack had eight children, as 
follows : 

Mary, married Joseph Cone. 

Ruth, married Jared Cone. 

Lydia, married Josiah Arnold. 

Sarah, married Thomas Rogers. 

Susanna, married Nehemiah Tracy. 

Elizabeth, died unmarried. 

Thomas, married Hannah Gates, Feb. 9th, 1737. 

Matthew 2d, married Sarah Church, January 
i6th, 1745. 



TI4 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

Matthew Smith, ist, died December 6th, 175 1, 
aged 67, and was buried at the Cone burying 
ground. Sarah, his wife, died January i8th, 1755, 
aged 71, and was buried by his side. 

Matthew 2d, born A. D. 1722, and Sarah Church 
had seven children, five sons and two daughters, as 
follows : 

Asa was born 1747. He died when about 21. 
He was found dead near the residence of the late 
William H. Aynes, where he went to attend a social 
gathering in the evening. He was not found until 
after a search of two days, and then but a short dis- 
tance from the house. The cause of his death is 
to this day wrapped in mystery. 

Elizabeth, born November 12th, 1750; married 
Oliver Ackley. 

Matthew 3d, born May 12th, 1753 ; married 
Aseneth Anable in December, 1777. 

Azariah was born in 1755. He died in 1778, and 
was buried in the Smith burial ground. 

Jeremiah was born March 29th, 1758, and was 
married to Temperance Comstock June 17th, 1784, 
and by will became possessor of the old home- 
stead. 

Calvin was born in 1760 ; married Anna Anable 
January 15th, 1784. In company with Matthew, 
his brother, he moved to Middlefield, in Western 
Massachusetts, where tiiey raised large families. 
Their descendants, yet living in that vicinity, are 
numerous and very respectable. 



OF EAST HADDAM. II5 

Sarah, was born in 1762 ; she married John Park 
and removed from the town. 

Returning to Jeremiah, who married Temper- 
ance Comstock, we find that they had seven chil- 
dren — four sons and three daughters — as follows : 

Jeremiah, Jr., was born November 21st, 1786, 
and married Ruthy Ackley April 27th, 1809. 

Temperance was born October 27th, 17S8 ; mar- 
ried Joseph Ackley, October 27th, 1805 ; died 
February 29th, 181 2. 

Sophia was born May 13th, 1793; she married 
Joseph Brainard. 

Abner C. was born March 29th, 1796. He mar- 
ried Electa Warner, and now resides a few rods 
south of the old homestead. 

Erastus was born April 19th, 1799. He married 
Ann Allen, and resides with his son William on Mt. 
Parnassus. 

Julia J. was born July 8th, 1801. She married 
C. C. Gates, and is now living in Mood us. There 
are two branches of the Smith fapiily in this vicin- 
ity, both of which, however, descended from the 
first Matthew. The divergence commenced with 
Thomas, his son, who built'a house nearly in front 
of the Halsey Brown house, on the corner of the 
road leading to Aristarchus Daniels. The remains 
of the old cellar are yet visible. He had three 
sons — Matthew, Thomas and Samuel. Matthew 
subsequently built the house a little north of the 
old homestead, where Fluvia now lives, by which 



Il6 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

family it was inherited. Matthew 2d, of this 
branch, had twelve children, six sons and six 
daughters. The latter married as follows : 

Hannah married Stephen Fuller. 

Lydia married Jabez Fuller. 

Thankful married Irad Fuller. 

Esther married Josiah Gates. 

Olive married Jonas Sparks. 

Dorothy married William Palmer. 

Matthew lived and died on the old place. Asa 
located in Moodus, where Emory Lewis now lives, 
and was the father of AV^atrous B. and Asa, Ji'- 
Jonah moved West, where he died. The other sons 
died when children. Of our townsmen, Alden and 
Edmund, it will be observed that the former is a 
descendant of the first branch, the latter of the 
second, or Thomas, branch. Most of Alden's 
relations moved to Massachusetts ; Edmunds to 
Missouri. 



OF EAST HADDAM. II7 



CHAPTER XXI. 

Spencer Family. 

Sergeant Jared Spencer, of ^' The New Town," 
Cambridge, Mass., then of Lynn, and afterwards 
one of the first settlers of Haddam, Conn., made 
Ensign Sept. 1675, by the Council of Hartford, 
had eleven children. 

SECOND GENERATION. 

2. Samuel Spencer, (sixth child of Jared Spencer), 
of Millington. M. ist. Hannah, widow of Peter 
Blachford, (or Blachfield), also widow Thomas 
Hungerford, New London, and daughter Isaac 
Wiley, of New London, 1673. M. 2d. Marriam, 
widow of John Wiley, of Haddam, and daughter 
of Miles Moore, New London, 1689. Mirriam 
Spencer survived her husband, who died August 
7, 1705, leaving four children. 

THIRD GENERATION 

3. Deacon Isaac Spencer (son of Samuel), bap- 
tized Dec. 24, 1704, married Mary Selden, October 
2, 1707. She was born 5 Mar., 1689 ; her parents 
were Rebecca (Church) Selden, from Hadley, Mass. 
Isaac Spencer was chosen deacon of ist Ch., E. H., 
June 26, 1734, and died Feb. 10, 1751, aged 71 
years ; they had children, viz. : 



Il8 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

Mary, b July 24, 17 10, 

Rebecca, b Aug. i, 171 2, 

Joseph, b Oct. 3, 17 14, bapt. Jan. 17 15. 

Esther, b Dec. 16, 1716, 

Jared, b Nov. 5, 1718, bap. Dec. 7, 1718, 

Ehhu, b Feb. 12, 1721, afterwards Rev. Elihu 
Spencer, of the College of N. Y., and father of 
Mrs. Jonathan Dickinson Sargeant, whose son, 
Jno. Sergeant, b 1780, was candidate for Vice Pres. 
U. S., 1832. 

Isaac, b May 3, 1723, 

Mehitable, b May 29, 1725, 

Hannah, bap. Nov. 26, 1727, 

Anna, b Nov. 29, 1729, 

Israel, b Jan. 30, 1731-32, m Eliza Marsh, Oct. 
18, 1753- 

FOURTH GENERATION. 

Hon. Joseph Spencer, (eldest son of Isaac), mar- 
ried Aug. 2, 1738, Martha, dau. Hon. Hezekiah and 
Dorothy (Hobart) Brainard. Joseph Spencer was 
admitted to church at Miliington, March 23, 1746. 
He was Assistant (Senator) Conn., 1774 and 1775 ; 
Judge of Probate 1775. "June 30, 1774, in town 
meeting duly warned — Hon. Joseph Spencer 
chosen moderator, a unanimous vote was recorded 
for a Declaration of American Rights." "Jan. 6, 
1778, Articles of Confederation were unanimously 
adopted." He presided on this occasion also, and 
frequently besides. (E. H. Records.) In May, 
1778, he was made a member of the Council of 



OF EAST HADDAxM. II9 

Safety. In the Colonial army 1756, he was a 
Major, and afterwards Colonel, and must have 
served with some distinction, for at the commence- 
ment of the war with Great Britain, the State of 
Connecticut turned immediately to him as a leader, 
and the Assembly, in the month of March, 1775, 
appointed " Col. David Wooster a Major General, 
and Col. Joseph Spencer, and Israel Putnam to be 
Brigadier Generals," thus making him second in 
rank in the State. 

The war had now actually begun, and Washing- 
ton had been chosen Commander-in-Chief. Con- 
gress proceeded to appoint four Major-Generals 
and eight Brigadier-Generals : they named Ward 
C. Lee, Schuyler and Putnam for the former posi- 
tions, and Pomeroy, Montgomery, Wooster, Heath, 
Joseph Spencer, Thomas, Sullivan and Greene for 
the latter, thus making Spencer's rank tenth in the 
Colonial army ; but there is nothing which touches 
a soldier quicker than to see his subordinates placed 
above him, and there is nothing so destructive to 
discipline as such promotions, except for cause. 
Many felt this besides Spencer, who was at first so 
offended that he left camp, but was soon induced 
to return. Gen. Seth Pomeroy, the senior Briga- 
dier, refused to serve, and Spencer took rank next 
to Putnam in the army at Boston. In the division of 
the army by Washington into three grand divisions, 
the command of the right wing, on Roxbury 
Heights, was given to Gen. Ward, the senior Major 



I20 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

General, and with him were associated Spencer and 
Thomas, the ranking Brigadiers. 

In August 1776, Spencer was commissioned a 
Major-General by Congress. 

I have never seen a portrait or likeness of any 
kind of Gen. Spencer, and this is the more strange 
from the fact that John Trumbull, son of the pat- 
riot Gov. Trumbull, of Conn., first went into the 
army with Spencer, and it was during the time he 
was with him that he made those drawings of the 
enemies' works which won the favorable notice of 
Washington, and secured him the position of aide- 
de-camp on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief. 
Trumbull painted most of the military and public 
men of that day, but seems to have omitted Spen- 
cer. 

Spencer's was the last brigade which left Boston 
for New York ; this was on the 4th of April, 1776. 

During the occupation of New York, Spencer 
occupied a redoubt on the present Pike street, 
between Munroe and Cherry streets, called Spencer 
Redoubt. He also held the left at Harlem, of the 
line of defense extended across the citv from the 
Hudson to the Harlem at McGowan's Pass. These 
various positions are now so covered up by the 
march of population and the growth of the city, 
that they are past recognition, except the pass at 
the northern extremity of Central Park. 

On the 29th of August, 1776, Washington called 
a council of war on Long Island, at the Dutch 



OF EAST HADDAM. I2X 

Stone Church, near the junction of the present 
Fulton and Flatbush avenues in the city of Brook- 
lyn. The following officers were present, viz. : 
Washington, Putnam, Spencer, Mifflin, McDougal, 
Parsons, Scott, Wadsworth and Parsons, and on the 
yth of September the question as to the expediency 
of retaining New York city came before the council, 
and the majority voted to retain it. On the 12th of 
September, however, it resolved on the evacuation, 
with only three dissenting votes, which were given 
by Heath, Joseph Spencer and James Clinton. 

Maj. Gen. Spencer was soon after placed in com- 
mand of all the American forces in the State of 
Rhode Island, and July 11, 1777, Maj. Gen. Pres- 
cott, the English commander, fell into his hands as 
a prisoner of war. He was treated kindly by his 
captor, and in a short time was sent to Gen. Wash- 
ington, who exchanged him for Gen. Chas. Lee, a 
prisoner since Dec. 1776. 

Gen. Spencer arranged an expedition in Sept., 
1777, which was actually embarked, to cross to 
R. I., and surprise the enemy. At the last moment, 
having learned that the English commander was 
apprised of his plans, he countermanded the order. 
The facts proved that he had acted rightly, for the 
enemy had determined to allow them to land, and 
then by destroying their boats, to cut off their re- 
treat and make them prisoners. Congress ordered 
an investigation into the affair, to ascertain why the 
expedition was not prosecuted, and Spencer in 



122 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

^indignation at the implied censure, resigned his com- 
mission, and Gen. SuUivan was sent to R. I. to suc- 
ceed him. On the 30th of August, 1778, Spencer 
assisted in SuUivan's retreat, and this seems to have 
been his last military service. He then returned 
to his home on the banks of the Connecticut, and 
"doubtless intended to remain there ; but his native 
-State had not forgotten him, and he was elected to 
represent it in Congress. 

He married a second time in 1756, Hannah 
Brown, of Waterbury, widow of Mr. Southmaid ; 
she united with the church, Dec. 13, 1788. 

I find in the E. H. town Records, ** Col. Jos. 
Spencer was elected deacon of the Millington 
Society, Nov. 20, 1767 ;" afterward the record shows 
that ''he was excused from service during the Re- 
volution," and again, ''re-elected April 4, 1788." 
The last town record reads, " Hon. Jos. Spencer, 
died Jan. 13, 1789, aged 74," — to be exact, 74 years, 
.3 mos., and 10 days. He had by his first marriage 
three daughters and two sons, and by the second 
.marriage four sons and four daughters. 

FIFTH GENERATION. 

(5) Martha Spencer, (daughter Hon. Jos.) b May 
•8, 1739 ; ^^^^ F^t). 24, 1739-40. 

(5) Martha Spencer, (daughter Hon. Jos.) not 
'entered among the births recorded at Millington ; 
juarried June 14, 1759, Joseph Cone, Jr., who was 
born in E. H., Nov. 2, 1735 5 they had five child- 
ren : Conant Cone, b July 6, 1760, was father of 



OF EAST HADDAM. 1 23 

Spencer H. Cone, D. D., the eminent Baptist divine 
of N. Y, City, some years since. The second child, 
Alice, was born Feb. i8, 1762, and the others, Pru- 
dence, John and Martha, were baptized Sept. 8, 1868. 

(5) Anne Spencer, (dau. Hon. Jos.) bapt. MiUing- 
ton, March 30, 1746. 

(5) Joseph Spencer, (son Hon. Jos.) bapt. Milling- 
ton, July 22, 1750 ; he married . I have 

a record of but one child (6) Elizabeth Spencer 
who married Hon. Lewis Cass, Major-General U. 
S. A.., Governor of the State of Michigan, U. S. 
Senator, and Secretary of War in the Cabinet of Presi- 
dent Jackson, 1831 to 1837. — He was Democratic 
Candidate for President against Zachary Taylor. 

(5) Nehemiah Spencer, (son Hon. Jos.) bapt. Mill., 
Dec. 24, 1752. 

(5) Millicent Spencer, (dau. Hon. Jos.) bapt. Mill., 
March 20, 1757 ; joined the church April 5, 1789 ; 
m. Dec, 18, 1813, Rev. Elijah Parsons, pastor of the 
First Society at E. Haddam. 

(5) Hon. Isaac Spencer (son of Hon. Jos.) bapt. 
Dec. 9, 1759, married Lucretia, daughter of Harris 
Colt. Mr. Spencer was for many years Treasurer 
of the State of Connecticut. 

Jared Spencer, Esq., (son Hon. Jos.) born June 
5, 1762, a twin, bapt. Mill. July 25, 1762. At the 
age of twenty-two he graduated (A. B.) from Yale 
College in the class of 1784, after which he fitted 
himself for his profession as Counsellor at Law, 
which he practiced until his death. He married 



124 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

Nov. 29, 1789, Ann Green (church records say 
Nov. 30.) She was the sixth child of Captain 
James and Ruth Marshall Green, born 13th Feb. 
1768, bapt. Mar. 14, 1773, joined the church June 
5, 1796, and died Nov. 11, 1855, aged 87 years and 
nine months. Esquire Spencer perished in a snow- 
storm Nov. II, 1820, aged 58, leaving him surviving 
four children, one, an infant, having died in 1802. 

(6) Nancy b. May 29, 1791, bapt. July 6, 1796, 
joined the church May i, 1814, married Capt. 
Thomas Bruce, of Portland, Conn, left two children. 

(6) Richard Green bapt. May 4, 1800, removed 
to Canada where he married Sophia Lake, of Ver- 
mont. He died of cholera 1834, leaving one son. 

(6) Mary (Polly) b Sept. 12, 1793, bapt. July 3, 
1796, died Sept. 7, i860, aged 66. 

(6) Lucretia b Sept. 12, 1793, bapt. July 3, 1796, 
died April 26, 1858, aged 6;^. These ages are from 
the tomb stones, and if the dates are correct the 
former lacked but 5 days of 67 years, and the latter 
was 64 years, 7 months and 14 days. 

(5) Mary Spencer (dau. Hon. Jos.) born June 5, 
1762, bapt. July 25, 1762, a twin, married Turner 
Miner. 

(5) Seth , Spencer (son Hon. Jos.) bapt. Jan. 
20, 1765. 

(5) Hannah Spencer (dau. Hon. Jos.) bapt. Nov. 
15, 1767, married Rev. Mr. Skinner. 

(5) Betty Spencer (dau. lion. Jos.) bapt. Mar. 18, 
1770, married Selden Warner. 



OF EAST HADDAM. 1 25 

(5) Nehemiah Spencer (son Hon. Jos.) bapt. May 
24, 1772, married Feb. 14, 1793, Betsy Swan. 

(For the above genealogy of the Spencer family, I 
am indebted to Mr. Richard H. Green, of Brooklyn.) 



126 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 



CHAPTER. XXII 

Prominent Men. 

The readers of the Old Chimney Stacks, have 
probably observed that East Haddam, and particu- 
larly Millington, has been the birth-place or resi- 
dence of many prominent men, whose names 
have been illustrious in connection with our national 
and state governments ; men who have adorned 
the higher and nobler professions of life ; men, 
and women too, to whom we can refer with pride. 
Many of them sleep in our church yards, though 
dead, yet living ; many went forth and have never 
returned from the fields where they so nobly toiled; 
some still live to adorn their chosen professions. I 
will now record some of the prominent names 
which occur to me, and regret that I am unable to 
make the list complete. 

Hon. Joseph Spencer, whose history is here given, 
was a native of Millington, and lived and died at 
the Old Stack, just south of Lyman Cone's. His 
brother, Rev. Elihu Spencer, of the College of 
New Jersey, was born in Millington. His grandson, 
John Sargeant, was candidate for Vice President of 
the United States, in 1832. 

Rev. Spencer H. Cone, the eminent Baptist Di- 
vine, was born in Millington, just south of E. F. 



OF EAST HADDAM. 1 27 

Peck's. For a number of years he stood at the head 
of the Baptist church in New York City. 

Elizabeth Spencer, daughter of Joseph, Jr., of 
Millington, beeame the wife of the Hon. Lewis- 
Cass, candidate for President in 1848. 

Hon. Isaac Spencer, of Millington, was for many- 
years Treasurer of the State of Connecticut. 

David Brainard, the eminent Missionary among: 
the Indians, was a brother of Hon. Joseph Spen- 
cer's wife, and resided several years in Millington,, 
when a youth. 

One of the most remarkable men of the age, was. 
Dr. Eliphalet Nott, who lived during several years of 
his boyhood on the old road running north from the- 
old Austin Beebe House in Millington. He lived 
here with relatives, having been left an orphan at 
quite an early age. During his early life he had to. 
endure many of the hardships of poverty. For 
want of shoes he was forced to go barefooted most 
of the year. When quite young, he had am 
unquenchable thirst for knowledge, and, notwith- 
standing his limited opportunities, and the obsta- 
cles he had to encounter, at the age of nineteen he- 
stood the examination for the degree of Master of 
Arts, and actually had the degree conferred upon 
him by Brown's University without his having at- 
tended college a single day. He chose the vocation^ 
of the ministry, and after the usual three years" 
study, was ordained at the age of twenty-two. He 
was married soon after, and with his bride, on horse^ 



128 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

back, started off on their wedding-trip to what was 
then the far West. They stopped and made a set- 
tlement at the new village of Cherry Valley, about 
fifty miles west of Albany. Soon after his settle- 
ment, the fame of his talents reaching Albany, he 
was invited to become the pastor of one of its 
principle churches, which invitation he accepted. 
While here, he preached that famous sermon upon 
the death of Hamilton, which attracted universal 
attention, and which still ranks as one of the most 
eloquent and striking ever delivered in the United 
States. Seven years after he came to Albany, he 
was called to the presidency of Union College, in 
the building up and management of which he dis- 
played talents for business that would have sufficed 
for the government of a nation. He was also the 
inventor of the famous " Nott Stove " for burning 
coal, the patents of which procured a vast revenue, 
so that when he died, he was one of the richest 
men in the State of New York, west of Albany. 

In the fiftieth year of his presidency, he gave to 
Union College as a permanent endowment, the sum 
of six hundred and ten thousand dollars. He held 
his position for sixty-one years, and died in the 
ninety-third year of his age. 

Born before the Revolution, inheriting an almost 
perfect bodily constitution, with talents of the highest 
order, which were used only for the benefit of mankind 
he lived to see the close of the Rebellion, bequeathing 
to the world a name and a fame that will never die. 



OF EAST HADDAM 12 9 



CHAPTER XXIII. 
Prominent Men Continued, 

East Haddam boasts of the unusual honor of 
having two members of Congress at one time, both 
of whom were elected for several terms under the 
old law for electing Congressmen by general ticket. 
These were Gen. Epaphroditus Champion and 
Jonathan O. Mosley. Gen. Champion lived at the 
old Tyler Place in East Haddam Landing. He was 
a member of the General Assembly in 1793. He 
had command of the 24th Regiment of the Connec- 
ticut State Militia, before his election to Congress. 

The following letter from General George Wash- 
ington to General Champion, of this town, will be 
read with interest. At the date given. General 
Champion was commissary general of provisions 
for the army. The original letter is in the posses- 
sion of Harvy J. Brooks, Haddam Neck: 

Camp Valley Forge, Ffb. 17th, 1778. 
Sir : — The present situation of the army is the most melan- 
choly that can be conceived. Our supplies of provisions of the 
flesh kind for some time past have been very defficient and irregu- 
lar. A prospect now opens of absolute want, such as will 
make it impossible to keep the army much longer from disolu- 
tion, unless the most vigorous and eflfectual measures are pur- 
sued to prevent it. Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland are 



130 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

now entirely exhausted. All the beef and pork already col- 
lected in them, or that can be collected, will not, by any means, 
support the army one month longer. Further to the southward 
some quantities of provisions have been procured ; but if they 
were all on the spot, they would afford but a very partial and 
temporary supply. The difficulty of transportation is great. 
The distance will not allow it to be effected by land carriage ; 
and the navigation up Chespeak Bay is interrupted by the ene- 
my's vessels, which makes it very precarious when we shall get 
any material relief from that quarter. If every possible exer- 
tion is not made use of there, to send us immediate and ample 
supplies of cattle, the most fatal consequences most ensue. I 
have much confidence in your zeal and activity, and trust, upon 
this occasion, they will be exerted in a peculiar manner, to hurrj- 
on to camp all the cattle you may be able to purchase. 
I am, sir, your most obedient servant, 

Geo. Washington. 
Henry Champion, Esq. 

Ei'APHRODiTUS Champion's list, for 1S13 : 

I head $60, 2 cows $14, 2 horses, |io, |20 I94.00 

50 acres mowing and clear pasture, a $1.34 67.00 

37 " brush pasture and wood land, a .34 12. 5S 

I Phaeton $100, one chaise say $30 130.00 

I silver watch fio, one clock i|20 30.00 

1 house II fire places, a $5 55oo 

2 one-story stores, $10 20.00 

30 oz. plate a $1.11 a 6 pet 5.33 

3, 700 dollars bank stock a 3 pet 11 1 .00 

1524.91 

Col. Mosley lived but little over a mile north of 

Gen. Champion, on the place now owned by Wm. J. 

Morgan. He was a lawyer, and held the office of 

State's Attorney for Middlesex County from 1797 



OF EAST HADDAM. I3I 

to 1805. He was elected to Congress for several 
terms ; had held command of a regiment of State 
Militia, and was also a Justice of the Peace in town 
for a number of years. His grandaughter is the 
wife of Hon. Hiram Willey. His grandson, Wm.O. 
Mosley, resides in Hadlyme. His father, Thomas 
Mosley, was quite a popular physician; was a mem- 
ber of the State Medical Association, and was also 
a Justice of the Peace. Timothy Green, to whom 
allusion has been made in a former chapter, a resi- 
dent of the Landing, was afterwards elected to 
Congress under the District System. These mem- 
bers all proved themselves a credit to the Town, 
County and State. Captain Green, the father of 
Timothy, was identified with the early history of 
the town, as a large landed proprietor was Captain 
of a company in the Rebellion, the first postmaster 
in East Haddam, and held many other positions of 
trust. 

The Emmons family which settled on the P^ast 
Haddam and Colchester turnpike, where Ralph 
Stark now resides, furnished several prominent men. 
Among them were Rev. Nathaniel Emmons, who 
settled in Boston, and acquired a national reputa- 
tion for power and eloquence as a Congregational 
minister; and Ichabod, his brother, who moved to 
Berkshire County, and became somewhat noted as 
a politician. He was sent to the Legislature for 
many years, and many anecdotes are related of his 
wit and humor. He declared at one time, that he 



132 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

should continue going to the Legislature until he 
had "secured a tax on ministers and jackasses," 
which were then about the only exemptions, and he 
kept his word. 

Edward Dorr Griffin, who was born near Nathan 
Jewett's, became a brilliant light in the ministry, a 
Doctor of Divinity, and President of Williamston 
College in Massachusetts. His brother, George 
Griffin, became equally brilliant as a lawyer, and was 
for many years a member of the bar in New York 
City, where he amassed a fortune of several hundred 
thousand dollars by legitimate practice alone. As a 
birth-place and residence of the legal fraternity. 
East Haddam has been quite famous. In addition 
to those where reference has already been made, I 
will mention such names as I can recall to mind. 

Gen. Dyer Throop was the first judge of the 
County Court for Middlesex County. He held the 
office from 1785 to 1789. Previous to this, he held 
the office of Justice of the Peace. At the close of 
the Revolutionary War, he commanded the 24th 
Regiment of Connecticut Militia. He died June 4? 
1789, at the age of 51. 

Francis M. Cone, who died in Georgia a few 
years since, ( the oldest son of Joshua Cone,) was, 
perhaps, one of the most brilliant men ever raised 
in this town. He was a distinguished lawyer, after- 
wards elected to the office of Judge of the Supreme 
Court, in the State of Georgia, which position he 
filled with great credit. 



OF EAST HADDAM. I33 

William Hungerford, was born in Hadlyme. He 
graduated at Yale College in 1809, and chose the 
profession of the law. After practicing for some 
years in his native town, he removed to Hartford, 
where he resided at his death. He wore the honor- 
able title of LL. D., and stood for many years at 
the head of the Hartford bar. 

Wm. D. Shipman was a native of Chester; taught 
school in New Jersey, where he married ; studied 
two years for the ministry. He afterwards moved 
to East Haddam, where he studied and practiced 
law for four years, residing in the house now occu- 
pied as the northern part of Maplewood Music 
Seminary. In 1850 he removed to Hartford, and in 
1853 was appointed U. S. District Attorney. He 
has for some years held the position of Judge of 
the U. S. Court for the District of Connecticut. 

Hon. Eliphlet A. Bulkley, resided at the same 
house, which took the name of the " Bulkley 
House." He practiced law for several years in 
East Haddam, where he had good success. He 
afterwards moved to Hartford, where he con- 
tinued his practice and became very wealthy. He 
graduated in Yale College, in 1824, and is placed 
upon the records of the Lionian Society as the "Hon. 
Eliphalet Adams Bulkley, Pres. Soc. Fellow Y. C. 
Sen. Conn., from East Haddam." 

Moses Culver, of East Haddam, read law with 
E. A. Bulkley ; was admitted to the bar in this 
County, in 1845; commenced practice in Colchester 



134 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

same year, and continued there till 1846, when he 
opened an office in East Haddam. While here 
he held the office of Judge of Probate, and U. S. 
Commissioner for several years ; represented the 
town in the General Assembly in 1854. In May, 
1856, he moved to Middletown, and in 1856 or 
'58 was appointed State's Attorney, which position 
he held very creditably for six years. In i860, he 
represented the Town of Middletown in the Gen- 
eral Assembly. And in 1874 was appointed Judge 
of the Superior Court. Judge Culver died recently 
in Middletown. 

John C. Palmer, another prominent lawyer of 
Hartford, and President of the Sharp's Manufac- 
uring Co., was raised in East Haddam, where he 
practiced law for many years. 



OF EAST H ADD AM. 1 35 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

The following statistics of the wealth and agri- 
cultural products of the town, also the list of offi- 
cers which form the political machinery necessary 
to run a Connecticut town, may interest some of the 
old people who have long resided in other States : 

Population of the town in 1870, 2,952. 

Divided by estimation as follows : 

First Society, 2,140, Second Society, 571, Third Society, 241 

No. of Families 534 

" " Dwellings 484 

" " Colored persons 38 

" " Persons over 80 35 

Death by Consumption 20 

" " Typhoid Fever 6 

" " other causes 28 

Rate of mortality to population i in 73 

No. of stores 17 

" " Hotels 3 

" " Churches 6 

" " Cotton factories 14 

I Sash and Blind factory, i manufactory of wagon materials, i 
spoon manufactory, i silver-plating factory, i coffin trimmings 
factory, i cigar manufactory, i axe helve and i box manufac" 
tory — 

Machine Shops 3 

Blacksmith Shops 5 

Sawmills 7 

Gristmills 4 



136 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

Value of Real Estate $1,342,250 

" " Personal Estate 1,523,324 



Total $2,865,574 

No. of Horses 313 

" " Milch Cows 842 

" " Working Oxen 63S 

" " other cattle 113S 

" " Sheep 1 564 

" " Swine 477 

Value of Live Stock $166, 143 

Bushels of Wheat raised 115 

" Rye " 1181 

" Oats " 5586 

" " Buckwheat raised 1115 

" " Potatoes " 19429 

" " Corn " 10439 

Pounds of Tobacco " 66849 

" " Butter " 60651 

" " Cheese " 48S5 

" " Hops " 91 

" " Honey " 707 

Tons of Hay raised , 5425 

Gallons of Sorgham raised 226 

" Wine " 294 

" Milk sold 7440 

Value of farm productions $191,701 

Value of animals slaughtered 36,895 

The grand levy of East Haddam for 188415 as 
follows : 

616 houses $326,640 

30,435 j4 acres 268,369 

682^ mills 197, 130 

360 horses 17,955 

1,763 neat cattle 37,369 



OF EAST HADDAM. I37 

Sheep 1,733 

223 carriages Q.290 

Watches and jewelry 3, 880 

Musical instruments 4,705 

Furniture and books 1,460 

Bank and other stocks 238,489 

Railroad and other bonds 23,950 

Amount in trade 27,950 

Investments in manufacturies 46,550 

" " Commerce 8,800 

Money at interest 85,834 

• * on hand, 1 1 ,072 

Not specified 25,124 

10 and 20 per cent, added 23,825 

$1,365,110 
Deducted by Board of Relief 7,283 

Total grand levy $1,357,827 

There is an increase of the total of $1,492 over 
last year. There seems to be 2^ less houses than 
last year ; 7 7^4 acres of land less, lys mills, 33 
horses, 303 neat cattle and 19 carriages. Of values: 
land, $4,462 less than last year; horses, $1,082 less; 
neat cattle, $5,782 less; carriages $190 less. 



The officials of the town, elected annually, are as 
follows : 

Three Selectmen. 
One Town Clerk. 
One Treasurer. 
Three Assessors. 
Three Board of Relief. 
One Collector. 



138 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

One Town Agent. 

One Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths. 

Two Registers of Voters. 

One Agent Town Deposit Fund. 

One Treasurer Town Deposit Fund. 

Five Constables. 

Six Grand Jurors. 

One Sealer of Weights and Measures. 

Six Hay wards. (Called in the vernacular "Hog Howards.") 

Four Key Keepers. 

Two Inspectors of Wood and Lumber. 

Twelve Sextons. 

Two Gangers. 

Four Members Board of Education. 

One Auditor. 

One School Fund Treasurer. 

Six Justices of the Peace. 

One Judge of Probate. 

In addition there are two Commissioners of Fer- 
ries, who hold office by appointment, and a Deputy 
Sheriff, who is a County officer. A Keeper of the 
Town's Poor is appointed by the Selectmen. The 
Board of Health, Fence Viewers, and some other 
minor positions are held by virtue of the elective 
offices. Then, each of the seventeen school dis- 
tricts has its set of officials — Committeman, Collec- 
tor and Clerk. So there are about offices enough 
to go around. 

The present Judge of Probate of East Haddam, 
Julius Attwood, is the longest in the office of any 
Judge in the State, having held it for thirty con- 
secutive years. 



OF EAST HADDAM. I39 



CHAPTER XXV. 

Industries. 

Though the plough, the axe and the ox-wagon 
may be regarded as the leading emblems of East 
Haddam industry — the two latter being an adjunct 
of the ship-building trade — the spindle, the loom and 
the crucible have borne an important part. The for- 
mer implements, many years ago, began to rust, 
by reason of the exodus of so many young men 
from the rugged hill sides to the busy centres of 
civilization. The population however has been 
kept about evenly balanced by the immigration of 
skilled artisans to fill the busy mills, which fine 
water privileges made possible and profitable. 

The cotton manufacturing interests have cen- 
tered about Moodus, which, with Leesville, has 
maintained twelve cotton factories for several 
years. The metal industry has been located at 
Goodspeed's Landing. The various enterprises 
will only be briefly summarized. 

The oldest cotton mill in Moodus was the 
" Granite Twine Mill," erected in 1815. 

The mill now owned by Harper Boies, and 
known as the Yankee Twine Mill, was established 
by Capt. Asa Smith, in 181 9. He was succeeded 
by Watrous B. Smith. After many vicissitudes, 



I40 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

caused by reverses of fortune, and destruction by 
fire, the property passed into the possession of 
Harper Boies, the present owner, who, by good 
management, has made it a valuable plant. 



Brownell's Mill was started by Brownell <5c 
Co., in 1825, when they erected a wool carding and 
cloth dressing building on the site of the present 
mill. Edward P. Brownell died in 1875, and the 
business has since been conducted by Charles E., 
his son. 



Stanton S. Card was one of the pioneers in the 
manufacturing interests of Moodus. He built the 
mill just south of the "Yankee Twine," and the 
Southern Mill towards the Cove. 

In 1840, Jonathan O. Cone, and Emory Johnson, 
sons-in-law of Mr. Card, organized as Card ^ Co. 
Mr. Card died in 1867. Mr. Cone sold the upper 
mill to Albert E. Purple, who has ably managed it 
ever since. Mr. Johnson took the lower mill. He 
also, about i860, built the " Neptune Twine Mill," 
a large structure between the two former, and has 
since run them both quite successfully. The Nep- 
tune Mills employ some thirty hands, with a 
monthly pay roll of about $1,000. A shop for the 
manufacture of coffin trimmings, also several 
dwellings, have been erected by Mr. Johnson. The 
place has been localized by having a post office and 
a name — Johnsonville. 



OF EAST HADDAM. I4I 

The Union Manufacturing Co. was organized in 
1829. The New York Net and Twine Co. is an 
outgrowth of the Smith Manufacturing Co. In 
1869 it was reorganized as the "Nichols Co." 
Ebenezer Nichols, born 1770, was one of the 
founders of seine twine manufacturing. His son, 
William E., was born in 1806. He studied medi- 
cine, but abandoned the profession for manufac- 
turing. He invented and obtained a patent for 
" Patent or hand-laid Twine," out of which he got 
rich. In 1869, he associated with him Demorest 
and Joralmon, of New York City, and Z. E. Chaffee, 
of Moodus, and the " Nichols Co." became the 
" New York Net and Twine Co." Dr. Nichols 
built a fine residence just south of the Center Con- 
gregational Church. He was for many years one 
of the largest tax-payers in town. Deacon William 
E. Cone was for many years his efficient business 
manager. 

The Moodus Manufacturing Co. was organ- 
ized in 1848 by Harvey & S. B. Chace, of Valley 
Falls, Mass. They manufactured print cloths, and 
their works, which are probably the most extensive 
in the town, stand at the junction of Moodus 
River and Wigwam Brook. The business was, for 
many years, superintended by Wm. H. Crowning- 
shield. 

The Atlantic Duck Mill was incorporated in 
1851, with a capital stock of $10,000, which was 



142 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

afterwards increased to $50,000. It stands near the 
Falls, and is the second mill on the stream. 



The Williams Duck Co. was organized in 
1855, with a capital stock of $30,000, which was 
afterwards increased to $38,000, all paid in. It is a 
fine property, nominally managed by Jehial Wil- 
liams, but practically by Mr. John Barber, under 
whose able supervision, it is "run for all it is 
worth." 

The East Haddam Duck Co. is fully de- 
scribed in Chapter XI. 

The works have been for many years superin- 
tended by Mr. Nelson Bowers, a gentleman of good 
business ability, and prominent in town affairs. 



The Pine Brook Duck Co., across the Haddam 
line, was organized by Daniel Wetherell, in 1861. 
It was destroyed by fire in 187 1. 



Boardman & Son, Spoons, Plated Ware, etc. 
Luther Boardman, born in Rocky Hill, commenced 
manufacturing britannia spoons in a small building 
in Chester ; moved to East Haddam in 1842. Their 
extensive works are located at Goodspeed's Land- 
ing. When in full operation they employ fifty 
operatives, with a monthly pay roll of $3,000. 
Mr. Boardman has been prominent in town and State 
affairs. His son, Norman L., was admitted to the 
firm soon after he became of age, and has always 



OF EAST HADDAM. 143 

been active in the management of the business. 
He married the oldest daughter of Daniel B. War- 
ner and built a fine residence near his father. 
Both father and son and their wives are always 
liberal in works of practical benevolence, and are 
widely known throughout the State. 



James S. Ray, a native of Haddam, worked at 
Boardman's for a number of years, and about 1852 
started for himself in a small shop at Goodspeed's 
Landing. Being shrewd, and having an inventive 
genius, he prospered and "builded greater" until 
he established a fine business in spoons, forks, 
coffin trimmings, etc. Some years ago he bought a 
farm on the hill overlooking the village, put up a 
fine residence and devoted himself to farming. He 
also built a yacht, and spends considerable time in 
summer on the water. Boardman and Ray are 
neighbors and good friends. The former always 
has a good team and enjoys riding. He seldom or 
never steps in a boat. He had rather swim. Ray 
will have nothing to do with a horse. When he 
cannot go in his boats he will walk. 

'' Many men of many minds," says the old copy- 
book. 



Wilbur J. Squire, after many years labor, in- 
vented and perfected a machine for knitting gill- 
nets. He commenced manufacturing in a small 
shop at Goodspeed's about 1872. He afterwards 



144 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

erected a nice building, and, having a monopoly, 
did a fine business. He sold out, in 1885, ^^ ^ 
Boston company. 



Charles A. Chester, after running a shingle 
mill for many years, at Hadlyme, put up a mill for 
turning all kinds of handles, about 1870. 



lodges, etc. 

Columbia Lodge, No, 26 F. & A. M., was es- 
tablished in 1794, and is one of the oldest in the 
State. The first communication was held at 
Oliver Attwood's Hall, where Martin Watrous's 
store now stands. Meetings were also held in 
the dwelling now occupied by Dr. Harris. The 
present membership is about sixty-five. Its lodge 
room is over Pratt's store at East Haddam Land- 
ing. 



Middlesex Lodge of L O. O. F. was institu- 
ted April 2 2d, 1840, in Moodus, at the house now 
ODCUpied by William Gates. For many years it has 
been in a flourishing condition, and has done a great 
deal of charitable work. None of its sick members 
ever want for nursing or money. It maintains a 
good library which is well patronized. Its rooms 
are over Seward's (formerly Smith's) store, at 
Goodspeed's. 



OF EAST H ADD AM. 1 45 

The Bank of New England was organized in 
1854. Changed to National Bank of New England, 
in 1865. Its capital is $130,000 — surplus, $40,000. 
Julius Attwood, Pres., Thomas Gross, Jr., Cashier. 



The Moodus Savings Bank was incorporated 
in 1867. — It has prospered from the start. 



The Connecticut Valley Advertiser was 
founded in 1869 by E. Emory Johnson. It was 
first published at the residence of the owner 
and afterwards moved to the basement of the 
Machimoodus House, where these chapters were 
published in their original form. About 1873, it 
was purchased by Joseph E. Selden, who has since 
managed it very successfully. It is one of the most 
popular country papers in the state. The editorial 
sanctum is in a new building on the Plain, opposite 
the Baptist church. 



Maplewood Music Seminary was established 
at East Haddam Landing by Prof. Dwight S. Bab- 
cock, about 1865. For twelve years it was con- 
ducted with marked success, and filled with ladies 
from all parts of the country. The site and build- 
ings occupied are referred to in Chapter III. Be- 
tween the two dwellings, a large Opera House was 
built with all the modern appointments. The course 
was a full and thorough one, and the operas give 



146 THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS 

by the school at the close of each term attracted 
friends of the school and pupils from all directions. 
The severe attack of malaria, which visited the 
river towns a few years ago and entered nearly 
every household, was fatal to the school. With a 
loss of patronage, financial- difficulties followed, 
and the property passed into other hands, much 
to the regret of every citizen. The malarial 
troubles have now (1887) to a great extent abated, 
and certain business interests which have long 
been quiet are also looking more healthy. The 
various "shops" at Goodspeeds are feeling the 
effects of better times, and the hum of the 
cotton factories in Moodus is more pronounced. 
When ship-building revives as a nationl industry, 
there is reason to believe the two Landings will 
feel its influence. 

The peculiar soil necessary to the raising of 
the finer qualities of seed-leaf tobacco was dis- 
covered a few years ago in many East Haddam 
farms, and materially adds to the income of the 
owners. 

May prosperity and happiness still attend the 
good old town ! So say we all. 



THE END. 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 







